The USB Type-C universal connector has become a prevalent adoption for different kinds of electronic devices including smartphone, tablet, and laptop. Having one cable that does it all surely is very convenient for designers and consumers alike.

USB Type-C has, however, had its own set of integration issues with users and companies’ manufacturing smart devices. The primary culprit in these growing pains has been USB-C cables that don't actually comply with USB Type-C cable testing standards. These faulty cables aren't limited to just knock-offs; several smartphones have been released with charging cables that don't meet the specifications to power the smartphones that they come with which has led to numerous horror stories involving laptops and smartphones getting fried.

Despite these growing pains, USB Type-C is still on its way to becoming the most common connector for smart devices.

Why USB-C Can Damage Your Devices

The biggest problem with USB-C chargers: manufacturers don’t perform proper testing and validation. It’s the same problem we saw back when dangerous USB-C cables set devices on fire.

Unlike 10-watt USB ports on older devices, USB-C can push 100-watts. A 10-fold increase in power dramatically ratchets up the potential for explosions and fire.

USB-C Charger Problems

While USB-C is figuratively blowing up in market share, the efforts of several individuals and companies are helping to prevent USB-C devices from blowing up in a literal sense. Benson Leung and Nathan K are two hobbyists who test cables and leave their findings in a public spreadsheet that anyone can access. Their efforts even led to Amazon taking several faulty cables off of their market. There are also cable testing companies popping up to help manufacturers choose the right cables before going to market.　Before reading further, you need to understand the reasons why Leung and Nathan-K rated some chargers poorly:

Shady Cables — While some chargers won’t start fires or damage devices, they often ship with cables that can. You’re better off buying vetted USB-C cables separate from the adapter.

Quick Charge 3.0 — If a USB-C port can output Quick Charge, it’s out of specification and potentially dangerous. However, Leung and Nathan-K don’t regard this as a deal-breaking shortcoming.　

Legacy D+/D- Encoding — If a charger lacks legacy encoding, it means it can’t use old cables (such as Micro-USB) even when fitted with adapters.

Split PDO or Bad PDO — This means the charger outputs an out-of-specification Power Data Object (PDO); it may not charge it its rated speed. It’s been reported that Split PDO causes a delay in when chargers output optimal power delivery.

Their efforts have been helpful in protecting consumers from faulty devices, but they ultimately depend on an informed consumer base. There will also be those users who are too busy to read up on their smart devices' specifications and will inevitably buy a USB-C cord from a gas station or sketchy website. How can designers protect users like this?

Limited Edition X6 Power Bank & Hub

USB Hub Mode - “H” ：X6 Power Bank and Hub comes with a USB Hub mode (compatible with USB 2.0) that provides data transfer functions over its 2 USB-A ports. When you connect the USB-C Hub port to USB-C port of your compatible laptop, you can seamlessly charge your device as well as sync and manage your files with 2 USB-A ports.

X-Charge Mode - “X” ：X6 is the most unique USB-C power bank on the market that can charge an almost unlimited range of low-power devices such as smartwatches, Beats wireless earphones, Fitbit fitness bands, and more. Now your wearable devices will never run out of power again in the wild.

Simply press and hold the power button for 3 - 5 seconds, X6 will enter X-Charge mode, and display the "X" icon. Press and hold again to turn it off.

Accurate LED Power Display & Mode Indicator ：With the precise and clear LED power display, you will know the real time power in percentage and which MODE you are using.

UPS Mode with Pass-Through Charging ：X6 upgraded pass-through charging to include a UPS feature. There is no power interruption when X6 switches between pass-through and battery mode, making it ideal for applications such as security systems, micro-controllers, home automation, network storage, backup power for Wi-Fi routers, Raspberry Pi programming computer, and more.

Multi-Faceted Safety Protection：Zendure protection---protects against short circuit, power surge, overheating and overcharging.

2-Year Worry-Free Warranty ：We are confident in Zendure’s Product performance, and we know you’ll love it. That's why we back them all with a 2-year warranty and provide friendly, easy-to-reach support.