Google engineers fight against faulty USB Type-C cables

“However, now that there are more and more Type C products rolling out from Nexus, One+, Nokia, and more, this I have found painfully true: USB Type-C will only be as good as its ecosystem, and more specifically, the worst of its ecosystem”. Not only that, but they can be inserted into the accepting ports in either orientation no matter which way they’re flipped.

Senior software engineer Benson Leung is a part of the Google team that developed the Chromebook Pixel and the upcoming Pixel C, both of which utilize USB Type-C ports.

One particularly conscientious Google engineer, Benson Leung, is now on an unusual mission: he’s slowly working his way through a bunch of USB Type C cables and adaptors stocked by Amazon, to check whether they are actually up-to-spec and capable of charging his Chromebook Pixel. Leung’s reviews of which ones could potentially harm your device or simply not work will save time and money for those consumers looking to make the purchase. He tested the cables on recent Pixel gadgets of Google and discovered numerous cables, advertised as Type-C, are not suited for laptop use.

So far, Leung has reviewed 7 USB Type-C cables or adapters, and only 2 have gotten 5 stars out of 5. As we have specified several times now, the future with Type-C will be extraordinary, it’s only that there will be this transitional period where it may get a bit muddled at first. As a standard, anyone can create a USB Type-C cable, and without the need to get the product certified before putting it into the market it will inevitably lead to a flood of accessories which don’t properly implement said standard. But you will also see adapters (like this one) and other cables that you should steer clear of. The braided cable is a very nice touch too.

I bought the Kupx Micro-B receptacle to Type-C plug for testing with Pixel and Nexus devices.

In fact, the majority of USB cords that Leung has reviewed don’t comply with the proper Type-C specs and could, Leung warns, “cause damage to your hub, PC, or charger”.

Additionally, you know, he works for Google. Google architect goes on a campaign against broken USB Type-C links on Amazon.c.