Many think that mini and micro USBs are the same. Though they sound similar, there's a reason why they're called mini and micro. While mini was introduced in the year 2000, micro USB was introduced in 2007, featuring all the drawbacks mini had.
That made micro USB widely popular, and to date, multiple versions of micro have rolled out, making its functionality better with each release. However, let's take a closer look at the core differences between mini and micro USB connectors here.
If you're someone who is confused about the two, then this is for you. Read on to know more about the two types of connectors.
Is Micro USB and Mini USB the Same?
No, they are not the same. Though the USB cables look alike, micro and mini USB are entirely different. You can find a huge difference between the two in terms of their functionality, usage, and ports.
Remember the time when you had to go hunting for that specific charging cable for your mobile phone? Well, the Micro USB solved that issue, and now you can use any cable to charge your device. It's universal, and the hassle of using one charging cable is not there anymore.
Micro USB is the successor of mini USB and is a widely used USB cable in the market. Micro has features that mini lacked and is compact in its design too. We'll be seeing more about this below.
How to Differentiate Between Micro and Mini USB?
The major difference between the two is efficiency. Micro USB is one step ahead of the mini USB. Compared to the standard USB, mini is the smaller version of it, and micro is the smaller mini version.
Mini is largely used to store and transfer data, but you can charge devices with micro. When it comes to durability, micro usb again tops the list. It's extremely durable and mobile-friendly too. If you see the charging cables used on mobile phones today, they are mainly micro ones.
You can charge and connect to devices using the same cable, and that's what makes micro USB's the best right now. The lifecycle of micro is twice that of mini; 10000 cycles over 5000 of mini usb. Given the smaller micro cables' size, the transfer rate is the highest, and you cannot go wrong with this.
Due to all these features of micro USB cables, companies are adopting this new technology and gradually making the shift.
Is Mini USB Still Used?
Though mini USB connectors were introduced in 2000, in 2007, they were deprecated. They did not support OTG features and did not have a sleek design. The transfer speed was slow and was used in smaller devices such as smartphones and cameras.
It's safe to say that the micro connector came at the right time with tons of advanced features with evolving technology. Moreover, mini connectors are not compatible with all the gadgets and come with their own set of drawbacks.
Micro USB Types
Micro USB comes in various types with slightly varying functions. Though they are designed for the same purpose, it's better to know the types if you're planning to buy one.
1. Micro-A USB Micro-B USB
Micro A is a female-only connector, but micro B is both female and male connector, and both are smaller in size than mini. It is mainly used in digital cameras and mobile phones and has a high data transfer rate of up to 480 Mbps.
While the mini A connector does not support on-the-go features, micro A does it perfectly. Micro B has a black receptacle, while micro A has a white receptacle, but they both have a five-pin design.
2. Micro B USB 3.0
With every new version rolling out, the functionality of the USBs gets better. Micro B USB 3.0 is the next major version with a higher transfer rate of 625 Mbps and is mainly used in electronic devices and computers.
It is superfast and increased bandwidth. It has a wide array of improved features making it better than the rest of the USBs. It's full-duplex, making it backward compatible, and has features that usb 2.0 doesn't have. It provides 5 volts of power at the least, and the succeeding versions of this are USB 3.1 and USB 3.2.
3. Micro AB USB
One way to identify this type of USB is by looking at the color. Micro AB usually has a graycolor and can accommodate both micro A and B. It has the same features that are high transfer speed and small size. With this, the performance is high, and the cycle is higher too.
Micro USB and Type-C USB
You might have heard about type-c connectors lately. It's slowly gaining popularity due to its features. One of the best features of type-c USB is you can plug in either side up, unlike micro ones.
The charging speed is faster and is up to 10 Gbps. Type C connectors can be used on any device such as a camera, HDMI, and smartphones. Lately, type-c is being used by top mobile brands due to its increased performance and improved functionality.
Though type c connectors are slightly in the higher price range, it is believed to replace micro connectors gradually in the long run. It is highly durable and compatible, making it one of the best USB connectors in the market at present.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the differences between the two, how to choose the best USB cable?
Always go for the one with a high transfer rate and ensure it supports both data transfer and charging.
Note the device you want for the connector and the specs to ensure you get the right one for your device. It's easy to get confused between the different types, but it only takes a little understanding about what each can do best for your device. Compare the specifications of the cable and ensure it meets your requirements before buying one for your device.
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a power and data transfer system for electronic devices. USB is the standard for connecting computer devices like keyboards, mice, and printers. We also use a USB to charge and transfer data between phones, laptops, cameras, and other electronics. USB ports can power many more things than you'd think! Although 'universal' is in the name, there have been many iterations of USB connectors since its inception. Two of the oldest and most commonly used for personal electronics are the micro USB connector and the mini USB connector. Similar in size and shape, these USB connectors were designed for smaller devices like digital cameras, mobile phones, and GPS devices (remember when everyone had a mounted GPS device?). For the casual user, the difference between micro and mini USB can be confusing. Let's review some of their similarities and differences.
The mini USB was introduced in the early 2000s as a smaller version of the USB type A connector. Although it did not provide as much power as type A, its dramatically smaller size (about two-thirds the width of the type A connector) made the design of portable devices like digital cameras and mobile phones much simpler. There are three mini USB types– type A, type B, and type AB– with type B being the most widely used. The mini USB was very popular following its launch and was found on various MP3 players, digital cameras, and other devices. However, there were some problems with the mini USB. Besides the power decrease mentioned above, the mini USB was notoriously delicate, with a lifetime of 5,000 insertion and removal cycles. That may sound like a lot, but it is a rather poor rating for a connector cord for mobile devices. These issues with the mini USB led to the invention of the micro USB in 2007, and these days the mini USB is deprecated– fancy computer talk for 'no longer useful'– and manufacturers have ceased producing devices with mini USB ports.
Pros
Size: The mini USB has a smaller connector than USB Type-A
Portable: A shorter cord length made the mini USB more portable than its predecessors
Cons
Durability: The mini USB is infamous for its fragility, with a lifetime of 5,000 insertion and removal cycles
Mobile incompatibility: The mini USB is not compatible with On The Go mode for mobile devices
Deprecated: The mini USB's have been largely phased out, so cords and devices featuring a mini USB are hard to find
The micro USB connector was launched in 2007. An improvement on the mini USB, the micro USB had all of the functionality of the mini USB in a smaller and improved package. The micro USB quickly took over the world of USB connectors for smaller electronics and could be found on practically any portable electronic device not manufactured by Apple (who manufacture and sell their own model of USB connector). The connector of the micro USB, while around the same length as the mini, was only half the width, making it the smallest type of USB connector. Additionally, it was rated for 10,000 insertion and removal cycles, double that of the mini USB! Another plus for the micro USB is that it was launched with USB On the Go, a feature that allowed smartphones to act as hosts for devices like keyboards and flash drives. That gave the micro USB mobile compatibility that the mini USB could not match. The micro USB has type A and type B; we use type A for connecting to computer software and type B for connecting printers, phones, and other smaller devices. The micro USB has taken over the USB connector scene; however, the latest USB development, the USB-C, is quickly closing the distance.
Micro USB Pros and Cons
Pros
Durability: The micro USB was rated with the potential for 10,000 insertion and removal cycles, a large improvement from the mini USB.
Updated design: The micro USB's design largely rid itself of the mini USB's mechanical flaws. It also featured a passive latching mechanism to keep the connector from unplugging, which the mini USB did not have.
Mobile friendly: On The Go USB compatibility meant the micro USB was better for mobile devices like cellphones and MP3 players.
Size: the slimmer micro USB is easier to incorporate into devices than the mini USB.
Cons
Efficiency: Although the micro USB connector was once most efficient for smaller electronics, the advent of the USB-C ended its reign. The USB-C offers an exceptional transfer speed of up to 10 Gbps, whereas the micro USB can only offer 480 Mbps.
As you've seen, when it comes to micro USB versus mini USB, the micro has almost entirely replaced the mini. It's easy to understand why since the micro USB was planned to emulate the successes and improve upon the shortcomings of the mini USB. However, with its improved efficiency and versatility, the USB-C will likely replace the micro USB in the coming years.
Q: What devices use a micro USB charger?
A: Many devices use micro USB chargers, such as smartphones, MP3 players, GPS devices, printers, digital cameras, and more. As the standard for charging and data transfer on portable electronic devices for over a decade, many devices use micro USB.
Q: How can I tell if I have a micro USB or mini USB?
A: Micro USB connectors are smaller than mini USB connectors. The connectors have a similar trapezoidal shape, but the mini USB, besides being taller, also has crimped sides.
Q: Are micro and mini USB interchangeable?
A: No. Micro USB connectors will not fit into mini USB ports, and vice versa.
Q: Are all USB chargers the same?
A: No. Even among the same type of connector, different USB chargers can have different amp ratings, data transfer speeds, durability, and cord length. It's important to consider each of these factors in your purchase.