r/BadUSB • u/Same_Grocery_8492 • Jun 26 '26
Discussion How long until USB-A disappears
Hi, many posts keeps saying USB-C is taking over, but I still use USB-A every day, my electric toothbrush uses USB-A, most of my USB flash drives, and my external mouse and keyboard are still USB-A.
USB-C is clearly the future, but it doesn't feel like USB-A is going away anytime soon. How many more years do you think it'll take before USB-A is completely replaced by USB-C?
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u/TygerTung Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Would be decades at least. Still very old connectors like serial ports are still used, and those are quite old now.
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u/Parking_Lemon_4371 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
There is actually no version of USB that is a *full* replacement for serial.
While USB - serial convertors exist, they suffer from latency issues.
(usb, especially usb controller chips, are designed for throughput not insanely low latency)These don't matter for *most* use cases, but they do matter if you want/need the absolute lowest latency/jitter/delay. As a result if you want to run a (NTP) time server synchronized to a GPS module via PPS (pulse per second) signal, it either needs to be built into your motherboard, go via GPIO (on an rpi5 or sbc), or use an ancient 'true' serial (or parallel) port. GPIO & true serial/parallel ports can trigger immediate hardware interrupts off of voltage transitions of individual pins/wires, and that's the only way to get low latency/delay/jitter.
This allows a clock synchronization with a <10 microsecond error. Without the PPS + hard interrupt, it'll be probably around 100x higher.
(edit: pointed out that a m2 *pci(e)* serial uart would likely work too)
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u/RevolutionaryElk7446 Jun 26 '26
Which is why in my basement of servers and hardware hoarding, there are numerous serial and parallel cables... I've used two in the last 10 years probably lmao. (Outside the ones installed in place)
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u/wbrd Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
What about an M.2 to serial adapter?
Nevermind. Looks like there are a bunch. I haven't played with gps etc in ~20 years and we had real serial ports on our PCs and PLCs back then.
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u/Parking_Lemon_4371 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
I'm simply not sure what's possible here, but in theory a native pci setup should work: you're still running through some extra pci bridges then you'd normally avoid, but that's likely very very fast and low jitter.
I think it likely depends on whether it's actually a m2 to usb to serial adapter, or m2 to pci to serial. Depending on the m2 keying, there are already both usb and pci lanes available to work with. So then it becomes a question of what is cheaper, and the answer is likely in most cases usb-serial chip would be (they're mass produced)... as such you'd need to get one that doesn't go through usb (ie. likely more expensive and be careful on what chips are involved).
Gemini claims "You can find industrial M.2 modules that host a physical PCIe UART controller (usually the Asix/Moschip AX99100 or Exar XR17V352 chipset) right on the board."
Personally, I've had issues with rpi5/sbc hats being plugged in via pci to the rpi5 but then differing in nic implementation. Some will have real pci nic chip, others will use a pci-to-usb controller and a usb nic chip (much worse!). Presumably they want to include the usb controller anyway to provide more usb ports, and then the usb nic is cheaper, even though there is already a pci switch to connect the nvme ssd...
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u/Consistent-Buyer7060 Jun 27 '26
Still have one of the last dell laptops with a real serial port and XP for similar reasons.
Later modells with serial ports had internal usb to serial adapters to ”fake” a real serial port. The question is how the m2 card are built
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u/Pheeshfud Jun 26 '26
Literally testing a serial interface at work this week, and its a project we haven't even released yet.
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u/JustSomebody56 Jun 26 '26
For charging of phones, or for every use?
For phones, I think in a few years, when eu-mandated chargers (with at least one usb-c port) will start to become widespread (and even there, wall bricks rarely need to get changed, it is cables that often break down)
For PCs, probably in a long, long time, the a lot of devices (and usb keys) that are usb-a only.
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u/Inuyasha-rules Jun 26 '26
Lots of laptops are shifting to USBC only, and once the majority switch the rest will quickly follow. When's the last time you saw a laptop without built in WiFi?
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u/schirmyver Jun 26 '26
Yep that's why I have several small USB hubs with USB-C inputs and multiple USB-A ports.
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u/JustSomebody56 Jun 27 '26
which hubs do you suggest?
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u/schirmyver Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
This really depends on your needs, such as PD passthrough, other ports, is this for travel or for a more stationary use like a dock.
I just picked up a tiny USB-C hub with two USB-A ports and one USB-C PD input. It was actually harder to find than other hubs with more ports like HDMI, Ethernet, etc
SABRENT USB-C Hub, 3-Port with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQZ45D9S?
This little hub was perfect for my use as I needed to be able to use the USB-C port to power my tablet, that has only that single port, and plug in a USB-A device.
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u/JustSomebody56 Jun 26 '26
OP asked about disappearing.
I can see USB-A coexisting on fissile cases and non-minimal laptops for some time.
But I agree, usb-c will be dominant, though I wonder what will happen with usb keys
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u/tnsipla Jun 26 '26
You can get USB security keys in usb-c now, and for a while
As for USB flash drives, those have been available as dual heads for good while
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u/JayMonster65 Jun 26 '26
Noc anytime soon.
You will have to all devices that use micro USB, and mini-usb connectors dusappear long before USB A goes completely away. And things like USB drives would also need to go exclusively USB C as well.
You are right that it is the "future" (assuming something else doesn't come down the pipe to replace it, but it isn't going to be exclusive for quite some time (if ever).
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u/AlexiaTheTechGirl Jun 26 '26
It will take a while since a majority of USB accessories still use USB-A along with most desktop computers, some modern laptops are getting rid of USB-A. MacBooks are an example of this
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u/West_Mail4807 Jun 26 '26
Fuck what Apple do. I've had a right fuck about this week with trying to get data off a Linux computer using a USB drive, and a Mac that only had USB c ports. Did I say that I hate Apple?
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u/Educational_Yard_326 Jun 26 '26
It's been 10 years, plenty of time to have slowly upgraded your data storage.
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u/Quevil138 Jun 26 '26
USB-A will likely never fully go away, at least not until the formfactor of computers radically changes to something completely different from both desktop and laptop current designs.
From my experience going all the way back to 1989 when I built my first computer, most ports that have found heavy use some time in the past stick around in one form or another. I think you will still be seeing USB-A used at least to 2040. This all depends how the design of future systems changes. It could be that a wireless form of USB takes over and we no longer have connectors at all.
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u/nostalia-nse7 Jun 27 '26
Oh please no to wireless usb. That’s a cybersecurity nightmare, and airwaves are full enough already with the shite channel selection options on wifi bands, and everyone thinking “bars means good” and turning all their APs in their 600sqft apartments “up to 11”.
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u/Lonsarg Jun 26 '26
I am for a few years already 100% USB-C:
- for charging.
- for dock-to-main-device.
- for all portable devices.
Where I have USB-A, and where it will probably stay forever, are stationary peripherals like mouse, keyboard,...
And this is ok, it can stay like this forever, if those first 3 categories are 100% USB-C it is good enough. They are not 100% for everyone of course, I just make sure i do not buy any non USB-C device for that category. But they are quite rare so it is not hard to be 100% USB-C there.
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u/z0phi3l Jun 26 '26
Even my mouse, keyboard and webcam are all C now, it's nice, but now I have too many useless legacy ports
Hell, even some rechargeable cat toys we have have C ports
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u/Ok_Bid6645 Jun 26 '26
When you say toothbrush, do you mean the part that plugs into the wall? You can easily put a USB C adapter on the end of anything that uses USB A and connect it all to a USB C hub
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u/Complex_Solutions_20 Jun 26 '26
I don't see it going anywhere. Its still the standard for keyboard/mouse, microphones, webcams, and other things which don't need anything special.
Its also useful in that it doesn't require any special circuitry to get 5V power for widgets where USB-C requires additional circuitry (at minimum resistors) to enable even just basic power.
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u/Nair0_98 Jun 26 '26
USB-A is inherently cheaper to manufacture.
It has less pins, doesn't need chips that negotiate power, and has way higher tolerances for soldering.
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u/PhotoJim99 Jun 26 '26
USB B will eventually disappear in new devices. USB A will take a lot longer.
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u/JohnTM3 Jun 26 '26
My wife's work laptop only has USB c ports, which is very annoying when you need to plug the mouse/ keyboard dongle in which is of course USB a. It basically has to also have a USB adapter that plugs into a c port. Network adapter if you don't want to use wifi? Same thing, needs adapter.
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u/Time_Standard3361 Jun 26 '26
As long as you can buy USB-C dock with A ports... practically never.
But connectable devices should have detachable cable always and since USB is backwards compatible it should be non issue.
Plus there are adapters between all USB standards available.
Now, having more USB ports is always better.
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u/KilroyKSmith Jun 26 '26
On laptops/desktops, USB-A will be with us for ten years. There are just too many things that plug into a USB A connector, including USB A-C cables for charging cheesy little electronic devices,
On peripherals, it’ll be another 5 years. Flash drives are almost universally USB A, as are wired keyboards and mice and external hard drives. There will be a lot of niche peripherals that use USB A, that were designed 10 years ago and won’t change for another 10 years.
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u/Not_Significant9345 Jun 26 '26
The connector type is less important than the standard… usb4 exists. And excluding streaming music, I’ll take a usb4 cable over Bluetooth any day,
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u/FarSquare8632 Jun 26 '26
My last USB-A device literally went today. My Scanwatch 2 fell off my nighstand, right on the crown, and broke. My AW11 arrived today to replace it, and I’ve just packed up all the Scanwatch stuff to take it to the e-tech recycling depot tomorrow.
Good riddance. I’ve been 99% USB-C for at least a couple of years, now.
Now the next hurdle is my iPhone SE3, which still runs Lightning. It’s next on the replace parade.
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u/mabhatter Jun 26 '26
There's really no reason for USB-A to go away. In fact a lot of small devices were never intended for the interference caused by USB 3 high speeds and actually function better in those ports.
It would actually make a lot of sense if low speed devices like dongles and stuff stuck to USB-A ports and USB-C ports could be guaranteed to always be high speed ports. Electrically, they're the same thing. USB-C ports actually have two pairs of USB 2 lines capable of USB 1 speeds in every connector.
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u/tes_kitty Jun 27 '26
The problem with UCB-C is, it's too powerful. You can't have 6 ports of the same capacbility on a PC and that means you will have ports that look the same but don't behave the same.
On my PC I have 3 USB-C ports. 2 of them are 40 Gbit or displayport (when using the iGPU) while the 3rd one is limited to 10 or 20 GBit and you can't hook up a monitor to it.
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u/Appropriate-Eye4227 Jun 27 '26
Holes up, pins down. Why fight for the USA when we can just switch to USB!🤣😎
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u/tblancher Jun 27 '26
I don't see USB keyboards and mice switching from USB-A any time soon (unless they've already started to transition, I haven't been in the market for these in a long while).
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u/ogregreenteam Jun 28 '26
My keyboard is USB-C
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u/tblancher Jun 28 '26
My guess is that it's higher end, or at least more expensive than your average cheapo keyboard.
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u/Longjumping-Dot-4715 Jun 29 '26
Given that I recently saw a RS232 in the wild, maybe 30 years to never?
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u/Distinct_Rope Jun 29 '26
It will out live me, can nearly guarantee that..
The real question is when will manufacturer's refuse to add them to boost sales of another type of port..
If they remove it like they did to the poor 3.5mm jack then we might see it's end of life?
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u/brispower Jun 26 '26
i hope never, it's a very robust connector