The Type-C connector is quickly showing up on both Macs and PCs. Industry experts are predicting that by the end of this year 90% of all new computers will be shipping with this new 12-pin reversible connector. But, the big question is what kind of performance does it offer?
USB Type-C allows for transfer speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. Thunderbolt™ 3, on the other hand, also uses this same Type-C connector and allows for transfer speeds of up to 40 gigabits per second. The two ports and their cables look almost exactly alike and that is where the confusion lies.
Some new computers, such as the Apple MacBook are shipping with USB Type-C, where other computers and devices such as the Intel NUC and AKiTiO Thunder3 Duo Pro are equipped with the much faster Thunderbolt 3 technology. While the ports and cables may look the same, their performance can vary greatly. This is where Akitio has stepped in to help clear up some of the confusion.
All new Akitio products, whether they be USB Type-C or Thunderbolt Type-C will come with special cable ties that clearly mark whether the cable is USB or Thunderbolt. Blue cable ties are marked as Thunderbolt 3 and red cable ties are marked as USB. Akitio also clearly marks the ports on their devices as either USB or Thunderbolt 3. While most cables do come marked as either USB or Thunderbolt, the markings can be scratched off or rubbed off making it difficult to know which type of cable it is. Once the Akitio cable tie is attached it will continue to be easily differentiated for years to come.
So, while Type-C will continue to be confusing to many, Akitio is doing its part to help clear up some of the confusion.