USB Cable Guide
USB has several plug shapes, and two of them, mini and micro, look very alike but do not fit each other. This guide shows how to tell the plugs apart, which cable to buy for a phone, camera, printer or drive, what to check on a USB C cable, and how to make a USB connection longer.
USB plugs: A, B, mini, micro and C
| Plug | What it looks like | Found on |
|---|---|---|
| USB A | Flat rectangle; fits one way up | Computers, chargers, TVs, games consoles, car sockets, memory sticks |
| USB B | Almost square, with two corners cut off | Printers, scanners, audio interfaces and MIDI keyboards |
| Mini USB (mini B) | Small, thick plug with sloped sides on one edge | Older cameras, sat navs, dash cams, card readers, PS3 controllers |
| Micro USB (micro B) | Thinner and flatter than mini, with sloped sides along its length | Older Android phones and tablets, e-readers, Bluetooth speakers, PS4 controllers |
| USB 3 micro B | A micro plug with an extra section alongside, so it is twice as wide | Portable hard drives |
| USB C | Small rounded oval; fits either way up | Current phones, including iPhone 15 and later, tablets, laptops, PS5 and Xbox Series controllers, chargers |
Drawings are simplified views of the plug faces, not to scale. If you are not sure whether a socket is mini or micro, compare it with the drawings: a mini socket is noticeably thicker than a micro one, and neither plug fits the other socket.
Which USB cable do I need?
| Device | Cable |
|---|---|
| Camera, sat nav or dash cam with mini USB | A USB A to mini B cable, such as our mini USB cable, 0.5m to 5m |
| Older phone, speaker, e-reader or controller with micro USB | A USB A to micro B cable, such as our micro USB cable, 0.5m to 5m, or our 1.8m white cable. From a USB C laptop or charger, a USB C to micro USB cable, 1m to 3m |
| Phone or tablet with USB C | A USB A to USB C cable for an older charger or computer, our 3m certified cable for reaching the sofa, or a USB C to USB C cable for a USB C charger |
| Printer or scanner | A USB A to B cable, such as our printer cable, 0.5m to 5m, or a USB C to B cable for a USB C laptop. For printers further away, an active 10m or 20m cable |
| Portable hard drive | A USB 3.0 A to micro B cable, or the cable for its USB C socket |
| External drive or dock with a USB 3 B socket | A USB 3.0 A to B cable |
Charging needs a cable that carries power; almost every USB cable does. A power only extension charges but deliberately carries no data.
Mini USB cablesMicro USB cablesUSB A to B cablesUSB C cables
What to check on a USB C cable
USB C to USB C cables all look the same but can differ a lot inside:
- Charging power: basic cables carry up to 60W, enough for phones and tablets. Laptops often need a 100W cable, such as our 1.8m 100W cable; the latest high power laptops can use 240W cables.
- Video: many charging cables do not carry video. To connect a USB C laptop to a monitor with one USB C cable, use a USB4 or Thunderbolt cable, such as our 0.8m certified USB4 cable or active USB4 cable, 2m and 3m. For a TV or HDMI monitor, see USB C to HDMI in our HDMI cable guide.
- Older USB A devices on a USB C laptop or phone: a USB C to USB A adapter for memory sticks, keyboards and mice. The other way round, a USB A to USB C adapter lets a USB C cable plug into a USB A port.
- Headphones on a phone with no headphone socket: a USB C to 3.5mm adapter.
For chargers, see our USB chargers, including USB C Power Delivery chargers for phones and laptops.
USB speeds
| Version | Speed | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| USB 2.0 | 480Mbps | Fine for phones, printers, keyboards, mice and charging |
| USB 3.0 (also called USB 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.2 Gen 1) | 5Gbps | Often a blue tab inside USB A plugs and sockets; best for drives and docks |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 | 10Gbps | Fast SSDs and docks, usually on USB C |
| USB4 and Thunderbolt | 20Gbps to 40Gbps, and 80Gbps on the newest versions | USB C only; also carry video and high power charging |
USB is backwards compatible: a newer cable works with older devices, and the connection runs at the speed of the slowest part.
Extending a USB cable
| Distance | What to use |
|---|---|
| Up to 5m (USB 2.0) or about 3m (USB 3) | A standard extension, plug to socket, such as our USB 2.0 extension, 1m to 3m, black extension, 2m and 3m, or USB 3.0 extension, 1m to 5m |
| 5m to 30m | An active extension with a built-in booster, such as our USB 2.0 active extension, 5m to 20m, and active repeater cable up to 30m, or for USB 3, our 5m and 10m active extensions and optical extension, 10m to 30m |
| Up to 150m | A USB over network cable extender, such as our 50m extender or 150m 4 port extender |
- Webcams, hard drives and other power hungry devices may need a powered hub at the far end of a long extension.
- For USB C, an active 3m USB C extension.
- A TV's USB socket is often hard to reach behind a wall mounted TV; a short extension or a 90 or 270 degree USB adapter brings it within reach.
USB extension cablesActive USB extensionsUSB 3.0 extensionsUSB over CAT5
Hubs, adapters and network
- More USB ports: a hub, such as our 7 port USB 3.0 hub or powered 4 port hub with a charging port. Choose a powered hub for hard drives. For USB C laptops, a USB C hub with charging pass through.
- Memory sticks on an Android phone: a micro USB OTG adapter, if the phone supports USB On-The-Go.
- Wired internet on a laptop: a USB C to Ethernet adapter or USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapter.
- Joining two USB A plugs: a socket to socket coupler.
More cable guides
See also our HDMI cable guide, including USB C to HDMI, and which cable for my TV?
Not sure which USB cable you need? Call us on 0207 100 4874 or contact us and we will help.