![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a-usb-c-plug-next-to-the-usb-c-port-of-a-phone-2-2.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nMost folks only use USB-C as a charging port or to transfer data.<\/p>\n
But underneath the oval-shaped connector’s wonderfully accessible shape are a heap of extra specifications: USB Power Delivery for negotiating power flow, Alt Mode for tunneling other protocols like DisplayPort through the same pins, and USB4 at the high end for raw bandwidth \u2014 and it’s the combination of these that makes USB-C easily one of the best bits of tech in the past decade.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Related<\/p>\n
\t\t Reversible doesn’t mean identical.<\/p>\n Charge another phone from yours<\/p>\n Reverse charge all the things<\/p>\n Reverse charging is one of the most useful USB-C capabilities: just plug your phone into another device, and it’ll start charging the recipient automatically.<\/p>\n It works because USB Power Delivery is a bidirectional negotiation rather than a fixed direction \u2014 the two devices communicate when connected, work out which one has more power to offer, and set the direction of flow accordingly.<\/p>\n The only problem is that more devices support incoming USB PD rather than giving it out. On Android devices, it varies by manufacturer and model, sometimes within even the same range. Samsung calls it “Wireless PowerShare” for wireless reverse charging and handles wired reverse charging through PD on most of their flagship S and Z series. Google’s Pixel line has been inconsistent \u2014 some models support it, others don’t, and it’s not always clearly advertised. OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Oppo flagships generally support it.<\/p>\n On iPhone, Apple only enabled USB-C PD output with the iPhone 15 range, and it applies across all four 15 models, not just Pro. Earlier iPhones with Lightning couldn’t do it at all.<\/p>\n But even then, reverse charging isn’t super fast. You’re typically capped at 4.5W or 7.5W going the other direction, which is slow but functional for an emergency top-up. It’s not the same as plugging into a 20W wall charger.<\/p>\n Get wired gigabit Ethernet from a single adapter<\/p>\n This one feels like magic<\/p>\n I didn’t realize for quite some time that smartphones actually support incoming Ethernet connections. But it turns out they absolutely do, so long as you have a USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter, and your device has an internal Ethernet chip.<\/p>\n For example, the UGREEN USB-C to Ethernet Adapter<\/a> supports most smartphones, with specific support for iOS and Android devices.<\/p>\n You’ll still need to check if your specific device supports Ethernet connections, but it’s a fantastic way to use your smartphone (or tablet) over a wired connection, get faster and more stable download speeds, and so on.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tBrand \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUGREEN<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tPlatform Compatibility \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUSB-C<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tSpeed \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1Gbps<\/p>\n This UGREEN USB-C to Ethernet Adapter provides stable, high-speed wired internet up to 1Gbps. Featuring a durable aluminum case and plug-and-play functionality, it\u2019s compatible with almost any USB-C capable device. It is an ideal, compact solution for lag-free gaming, smooth streaming, and reliable video conferencing.<\/p>\n Run a monitor with no power cable<\/p>\n DisplayPort and HDMI Alt Mode work seamlessly<\/p>\n USB-C monitors that support Power Delivery pass-through can receive a video signal and power themselves from a single cable connected to your laptop or smartphone.<\/p>\n Your device negotiates a DisplayPort or HDMI Alt Mode connection for the video side while simultaneously delivering power to the display \u2014 typically somewhere between 10W and 30W, depending on the monitor’s requirements.<\/p>\n Voltage<\/p>\n Max current<\/p>\n Max wattage<\/p>\n Typical use<\/p>\n 5V<\/p>\n 3A<\/p>\n 15W<\/p>\n Basic phone charging, accessories<\/p>\n 9V<\/p>\n 3A<\/p>\n 27W<\/p>\n Fast charging on smartphones<\/p>\n 15V<\/p>\n 3A<\/p>\n 45W<\/p>\n Tablets, small ultrabooks<\/p>\n 20V<\/p>\n 3A<\/p>\n 60W<\/p>\n Laptops, standard range<\/p>\n 20V<\/p>\n 5A<\/p>\n 100W<\/p>\n Performance laptops (requires e-marked cable)<\/p>\n 28V<\/p>\n 5A<\/p>\n 140W<\/p>\n High-performance laptops (PD 3.1 EPR)<\/p>\n 36V<\/p>\n 5A<\/p>\n 180W<\/p>\n Mobile workstations (PD 3.1 EPR)<\/p>\n 48V<\/p>\n 5A<\/p>\n 240W<\/p>\n Gaming laptops, high-draw devices (PD 3.1 EPR)<\/p>\n Now, of course, you’ll have to be aware of power draw. On a smartphone or laptop, attaching a massive monitor via USB-C will potentially drain your battery. I’d strongly advise you to check the monitor’s spec sheet for its power draw before assuming this will work.<\/p>\n Well, not that it won’t work, but more that it’s power efficient for what you want to use it for.<\/p>\n Charge your laptop from a phone power bank<\/p>\n Depending on the specs<\/p>\n USB Power Delivery really is the star of the show. It defines a standard set of voltage and current profiles (5V, 9V, 15V, 20V), and when connected to the right hardware, it can negotiate the highest profile that both devices support<\/p>\n That means when you connect your smartphone charging power bank to your laptop, there is a strong possibility it’ll deliver it some juice, despite what the manufacturer’s packaging may say. A power bank designed primarily for phones can still output 45W or 65W to a laptop if it’s rated for it, and the laptop doesn’t distinguish between that and a wall charger.<\/p>\n Cable rating<\/p>\n Max wattage<\/p>\n E-marker required<\/p>\n Typical use<\/p>\n Standard USB-C<\/p>\n 60W<\/p>\n No<\/p>\n Phones, tablets, light laptop charging<\/p>\n 100W (5A rated)<\/p>\n 100W<\/p>\n Yes<\/p>\n Most laptops, docks, monitors<\/p>\n 240W EPR<\/p>\n 240W<\/p>\n Yes (EPR-specific)<\/p>\n Gaming laptops, high-wattage chargers<\/p>\n What a lot of people don’t realize is that the cable itself is also part of that negotiation. A standard USB-C cable without an e-marker chip will silently cap power delivery at 60W, regardless of what the charger and device both support.<\/p>\n To get above 60W, you need a cable explicitly rated for 100W<\/a>, containing an e-marker chip that communicates the cable’s capabilities to both devices during the handshake. If you’re finding your laptop charging slower than expected from a high-wattage power bank, the cable is usually the first thing to check.<\/p>\n Charging will be slower depending on the wattage and voltage, but it could give you some extra power when you need it most. The flipside is that because a laptop sips far more power than a smartphone, your portable power bank will likely drain faster, too. Keep that in mind if you’re rationing your power.<\/p>\n Skip the phone storage<\/p>\n In 2023, the iPhone 15 Pro launched with the ability to record Apple’s high-quality ProRes video format directly to an external SSD via a USB-C cable.<\/p>\n ProRes is a high-bitrate format \u2014 at 4K 30fps, Apple Log ProRes can run at around 1.7GB per minute, which is why this wasn’t possible before the USB-C switch from Lightning, since Lightning’s bandwidth simply couldn’t sustain it. USB-C on the 15 Pro runs at USB 3.0 speeds (up to 10Gbps), which gives it enough headroom to write that data in real time, and the tech has carried forward to the latest iPhone models.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, it’s not quite so cut-and-dry with Android devices, which require a third-party app to unlock this functionality. It does work, but you’ll need an app like MotionCam Pro<\/a>, mcpro24fps<\/a>, or Blackmagic Camera<\/a> to enable it.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tOS \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndroid<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tSubscription Price \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t$27<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tPrice model \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPremium<\/p>\n MotionCam Pro is a professional Android app that enables uncompressed RAW video capture, bypassing standard phone processing. It offers filmmakers maximum dynamic range and flexibility for colour grading. Features include 10-bit ProRes encoding, manual controls, and real-time monitoring tools, turning compatible smartphones into powerful cinema cameras for high-end production.<\/p>\n Go forth and test USB-C<\/p>\n None of this requires specialist hardware or any particularly unusual setup. USB-C has been capable of most of this for years. The main barrier has always been knowing it was possible in the first place.<\/p>\n It’s worth checking your cables and chargers to see what they’re actually rated for, because there’s a reasonable chance you’re leaving some of that capability on the table.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Most folks only use USB-C as a charging port or to transfer data. But underneath the oval-shaped connector’s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":546122,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[59,86,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-546121","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-gb","9":"tag-technology","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=546121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/546122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=546121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=546121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=546121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\t\t\tHow USB-C reversibility actually works
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"android](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/android-smartphone-reverse-charging-usb-c.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"ugreen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ugreen-usb-c-to-ethernet-adapter-1.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Comparing](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/displayport-2.jpg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Brady Snyder \/ MakeUseOf<\/p>\n![\"phone](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/phone-power-bank-charging-laptop.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"iPhone](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iphone-15-pro-no-prores-interal-4k-60fps-2.jpg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Paul Antill \/ MakeUseOf<\/p>\n![\"motioncam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/motioncam-pro-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n