Type-A extension cable
A plug at one end and a matching socket at the other, so this extends an existing USB Type-A cable or moves a port somewhere more convenient.
Worth knowing. These are the same physical plug, so they always fit. The link runs at the slower end's speed - 480 Mbps (Hi-Speed) - because USB Type-A has no contacts for anything faster.
- USB has a length limit: about 5 m for USB 2.0 and 3 m for 5 Gbps. Past that you need an active or powered extension.
USB Type-A — plug
The flat rectangle everyone pictures when they hear “USB”.
How to recognise it
- Flat rectangle, roughly 12 mm wide and 4.5 mm tall.
- Only goes in one way up, though it famously takes three tries.
- A white or black plastic tongue inside the metal shell.
- Maximum speed:
- 480 Mbps (Hi-Speed)
- Maximum power:
- 2.5 W standard, more with proprietary charging
USB Type-A (SuperSpeed) — socket
The same rectangle as Type-A, with a blue tongue and five extra pins.
How to recognise it
- Identical outline to a normal Type-A - it is the same plug.
- The plastic tongue is usually blue; teal or red means a faster or always-on port.
- Five extra contacts sit behind the four you can see on a 2.0 plug.
- Maximum speed:
- 5 Gbps, or 10 Gbps on a USB 10Gbps port
- Maximum power:
- 4.5 W standard