The USB or Universal Serial Bus is a common interface used for everything from data transfers to power delivery. It has come a long way from its humble origins in 1996 and is currently used in a wide range of gadgets, including computers, mobile devices, peripherals, and some lifestyle products. While the newer and more versatile USB Type-C connector has become more common in recent years, older connectors and ports using the Type-A design remain prevalent. Type-A connectors and ports have a metal casing similar to USB-C; however, they also include a plastic insert.
This plastic insert isn’t merely a design quirk — it fulfills three essential functions: it provides support to the metal contacts, helps identify the correct orientation of the connector, and sports a color to indicate its specific capabilities. As a result, you may have seen USB cables with inserts in various colors, such as black, blue, red, white, and yellow. There’s also a white version that can still be seen floating around, albeit rarely. If you see it on an airplane or inside an old charging brick, here’s what it means.
Why are some USB ports white?
The presence of a white-colored plastic insert in a USB port typically means it adheres to the USB 1.0 or USB 1.1 specifications. These were the first USB versions and aren’t very capable. USB 1.0 and USB 1.1 support data transfer rates of 1.5 Mbps at “Low Speed” and 12 Mbps at “Full Speed” configuration, making them significantly slower than USB4 – the newest USB version. Besides the slow data speeds, USB 1.x interfaces are limited to 100 mA or 0.5 W of power for USB 1.0, and 500 mA or 2.5 W for USB 1.1, which only makes them suitable for basic peripherals such as keyboards and mice. Peripherals requiring more than 2.5 W of power may not work or may deliver a sub-par experience when connected to a white USB port. If you plug your phone into a USB port with a white strip, it may take significantly longer to charge.
However, it’s important to remember that color-coding USB ports is just a recommendation by the USB Implementers Forum (USB IF), which is the organization responsible for the advancement and adoption of USB technology. So, not all manufacturers need to follow it. Therefore, only going off the color of a USB port to guess its capabilities is not always ideal. It’s a good idea to check the device manufacturer’s documentation, especially since USB 1.x ports are relatively rare these days.
