Sony Xperia Z5 & Xperia Z5 Compact to Not Feature USB Type-C?

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 13, 2015 | 5 comments
Sohrab Osati

Sony_Xperia_Z5_USB_Type-C

Just yesterday, we talked about the possibility of a 4K display on Sony’s upcoming flagship Xperia Z5 models. According to that rumor, Sony would utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (MSM8944) chipset to power its 4K display with 2160 x 3840 resolution. Now comes rumors of what won’t be making it into the Xperia Z5; USB Type-C.

Lets talk after the jump about what exactly USB Type-C.

If the above images prove to be real, then Sony has opted not to use the reversible USB Type-C port in their soon to be announced flagship smartphones.  Though a fairly new port that will likely get its legs come 2016, some companies have already started to use the new standard like OnePlus 2. So why should you care about USB Type-C?

First introduced properly to the world by Apple in their new and insanely thin MacBook, USB Type-C is reversible like Apple’s Lightning and Thunderbolt cable. This means that unlike your typical USB cable, you’ll never have to wonder if you’re pushing your cable in the right way or not. But there is a ton more that makes the standard great like

  • The ability to transfer data up to 10 Gbps
  • Ability to do output video, meaning no more separate ports like mini HDMI out
  • It’s quite powerful, literally. In that it can handle up to 100w, enough to charge laptops as Apple has shown
  • Backwards compatible, meaning that it can integrate with existing USB type inputs and hubs
  • Even thinner than previous USB standards like micro USB, meaning that your devices can even get thinner than before

 

Some have speculated that Sony may have opted not to use USB Type-C due to their desire to water- and dust-proof their phone and that USB Type-C somehow lacks that. This of course is false in that there is also a water-proof standard for the cable as well. Instead if this turns out to be true, it’s likely that Sony was too far along with their Xperia Z5 design when the new USB started to gain traction at which point it was too late to have it implemented. There’s always the Xperia Z6 right?

Discuss:

Are you looking forward to USB Type-C?

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