USB stands for universal serial bus. It may be used as connectors, power supply, etc. USB is mainly a modern technology that allows connecting an electronic device to a computer. It is a very fast and effective technology. USB is not only used in computers but also used in android and some video game consoles. USB allows us to connect our devices with other electronic devices with a great association. The difference Micro and Mini USB might be confusing to you and when you need what. This article covers all the points.
USB needs very little power to connect with the devices. So, there is no need for an extra power supply. It operates the connection by getting the power from the bus. USB is mostly used in computers, scanners, keyboards, digital cameras, and UDB flash drives, etc. About six billions USB are available around the world. USB works for multi-purposes and many old standers like parallel port, series port, and SCSI are replaced with USB.
There are a few free sockets on our computer. USB works very simply. There is no need to turn off the computer if USB is plugged out. When USB is plugged into a computer, the computer can address the devices attached to the other side of the USB. Sometimes, the software is installed to use USB. When the job is done, you can remove the USB without shut down the computer.
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Micro vs Mini USB
In modern technology, different components are available in different properties. In that case, micro and mini USB are quite the same in properties but there are also some differences. The main difference between mini and micro USB is in the overall size. Mini and micro USB both are small in size. Though mini USB is comparatively smaller than many other USB, in the comparison of the two USB, micro is smaller than mini USB.
Besides size, there is some difference in the performances. Mni USB performs as a standard USB and can not only store data but also transfer data. On the other hand, micro USBs are effectively robust in capabilities. Micro USB can do everything that mini USB can, but there is an extra advantage in micro USB. The micro USB can be used for charger connectors.
Again, there are varieties in life and efficiency between mini and micro USB. The cycle life of the mini USB is about half of the micro USB. The cycle life of micro USB is about 10,000. Both mini and micro USB is used in data transfer, but there is a huge difference in the speed of data transfer. Micro USB transfers data from at least 480 Mbps to maximum 5G bps. But for mini USB is far out of range. Click here to learn about how to format a USB drive.
Difference in term of USB Cable
There are many cables available in modern technology. The benefits and working capabilities are different from these cables. Micro USB cable and mini USB cable also vary from each other. The differences are not only in size, but there are some functional differences too. A USB cable is a twisted pair cable where data+ and data- conductors are twisted together in a double helix and enclosed by a further shielding. The cabling is required to reduce cross talk and noise.
The length of a micro USB cable is shorter than a mini USB cable. The maximum length of a mini cable is up to 5 meters. And the maximum length of a micro cable is up to 3 meters. As the length of the cables is different, the data speed also varies. Mini USB cable transfers data at a low speed of 1.5 Mbit/s, at medium speed of 12 Mbit/s and 480 Mbit/s at a high speed.
Difference in term of USB Pinout
On the other hand, micro USB cable transfers data faster than a mini USB cable. The minimum speed of the micro USB cable is 480 Mbit/s and it can transfer data up to 5Gbit/s. It is a super-speed of the data transferring process.Micro USB Pinout vs Mini USB Pinout
The pinout is a diagram which shows the arrangements of pins on integrated circuits and their functions. In electronics devices, the pinout is a cross-reference between the contacts. So, the pinout of mini and micro USB are different. The mini connector is compatible with the first and second-generation USB standards.
There are five pins in the mini USB connector. The red cable is VCC and it is connected with 5 V DC supply. The white cable is data- and the green cable is data+. One cable is to detect the presence of the device and the black cable is connected to the ground. In this sequence, the pins are arranged from left to right. All five wires are shielded and only the data wires are twisted pair.
Micro USB has 4 shielded wires. There are two wires for power. One is 5V DC and the other is grounded. And the rest two wires are for differential data signals. They are labeled as D+ and D-. These two differential signals are transmitted on a twisted pair. There is no need for termination. In micro USB, electromagnetic noise is reduced by the half-duplex differential signals. The differential cables are operated together rather than separate simplex connections.
The difference in term of USB Port
In modern technology, there are different types of ports available. Not only the structure of these ports are different, but also the internal functions vary a little. The mini and micro USB port is very common for our regular devices. Though mini USB port is available, micro USB port replaces the mini USB port in many devices like the new MacBook pro. By which the cable is connected to the device is commonly known as port.
In the mini USB port, there are found two types of ports. One is type-A and the other is type-B. Type-A port allows connecting OTG devices like smartphones and tablets. It also used to connect external keyboards and mouse. The type-B is found in cameras and hard drives. It is used by USB 1.1 and USB 2.0.
The micro USB ports are also two types. The micro USB port is not a dedicated port but fits easily into a special AB port. In modern Android devices, the micro USB port is working as a charging port. Now, all the new devices are manufactured by micro USB ports.
Difference in term of USB Charger
The USB charger is very common in today’s technology. It can charge your devices with the portable battery. The mini and micro USB chargers are quite similar but there are some differences too. The USB chargers are used most widely to charge devices like smartphones, cameras, and GPS devices for a startup.
When a power source like a computer or any portable battery is connected to one port of the USB, it transfers power to the other device connected to other ports. For the mini USB charger, the charging port is a little big than micro and the charging capability od mini USB charger is quite low. If you have to charge your devices quickly and you are out of home, then is it good to charge with a micro USB charger than mini. The manufacturers stop making mini USB port and charger as it takes a long time in charging and provides fewer functions.
Conclusion
USB technology is everywhere in the modern world. Different categories of USB are available. But the most commonly used USBs are mini USB and micro USB. Though there are some similarities in them, there are also some differences too. The USB system is made with asymmetric design. It mainly works to minimize incompatibilities produces by different vendors. As the technologies are updated day by day, mini USBs are replaced by the micro USB.
