Overviews

• What is USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery?
• USB Standards vs USB Connectors: What's the Difference?
• USB 3.1 Speed vs USB 3.0 and USB 3.2: Which Standard Matters Most?
• What is USB Type-C and Why It Matters
• Recommendation: FSP USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery Adapters and Chargers

 

USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery (PD) is a key standard enabling fast, flexible charging and high-speed data transfer over a single USB-C connector. In this guide, we break down what it means for your products—and which FSP adapters best meet industry-grade demands.

Before we dive into USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery specifications, let us clarify a few common USB myths.

The commonly‑heard "USB Type-C" is a type of USB connector. Apart from Type-C, we also often hear Standard-A, Micro-B and some other types of USB connectors. As for USB 3.1 or USB 3.2, these refers to transfer protocols. USB 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 refers to USB specifications set forth by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), an organization mainly responsible for maintaining USB specifications and ensuring the specifications' compliance to requirements. USB-IF both set forth standards to allow developers and manufacturers to easily obtain consistent information to develop backward‑compatible products, and is also responsible for the nomenclature for USB cables and USB devices.

 

What is USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery?

USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery is a protocol designed to transfer both high-speed data (up to 10Gbps) and power (up to 100W) through a single USB-C connector. It uses improved 128b/132b encoding, reducing data loss and optimizing bandwidth. This enables faster charging, seamless data sync, and better energy efficiency across industrial, commercial, and consumer devices.

So, what makes USB 3.1 special? USB 3.1 originated in 2013 when the USB-IF announced the launch of an enhanced version for USB 3.0. When compared to USB 3.0, the main difference in USB 3.1 lies in USB 3.1's transfer speed of up to 10Gbps. Theoretically speaking, USB 3.0 is 8b/10b encoded, i.e. only 8 bits of every 10 bits of data transferred is actual data, with the remaining 2 bits being control characters, hence resulting in 20% (2 bit/10 bit) bandwidth loss.

USB 3.1, on the other hand, uses 128bit/132bit coding, i.e., 128 bits of every 132 bits of transferred data is actual data, hence only 4 bits are control characters. This hence translates into significant reductions in bandwidth loss to 3% (4 bit/132 bit), therefore allowing a significantly increased transfer speed of 10Gbps to be achieved.

 

USB Standards vs USB Connectors: What's the Difference?

USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery merges two distinct components: the USB protocol version (e.g., USB 3.1, 3.2) and the physical connector type (e.g., Type‑C). USB Type‑C is the port design—small, reversible, and capable of carrying power, data, and video. In contrast, USB 3.1 defines the data transmission and power delivery capabilities, such as 10Gbps transfer speeds and 100W power output. These naming and compliance standards are maintained by the USB Implementers Forum (USB‑IF), which ensures that products meet interoperability and backward compatibility requirements.

 

 

Figure: USB Connector Types vs Protocol Versions - Understand the difference between USB physical interfaces (Type-A, Type-B, Type-C) and performance standards (USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, etc.).

 

USB 3.1 Speed vs USB 3.0 and USB 3.2: Which Standard Matters Most?

Among the latest USB standards, USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery stands out for offering the most practical mix of USB 3.1 speed, interface compatibility, and global adoption. While USB 3.0 provides 5Gbps and USB 3.2 pushes up to 20Gbps in more advanced setups, USB 3.1's 10Gbps transfer rate hits the ideal balance between performance and deployment cost—especially for OEMs, industrial engineers, and device makers targeting wide adoption.

More importantly, USB 3.1 was the first to natively integrate USB Type-C and Power Delivery, simplifying hardware design and enhancing system efficiency. As a result, it has become the dominant protocol for high-efficiency charging, data transfer, and peripheral connectivity.

Use the following table to compare key version specs:

Table: Summary of USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and USB 3.2 specifications

 

What is USB Type-C and Why It Matters

USB Type-C is the physical connector interface used in USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery. Designed to be universal, it supports data, video, and scalable power up to 240W—all through a single port. Compared to older USB-A or B designs, Type-C simplifies cable management and supports thinner, more compact device profiles.

USB Type-C (or USB-C) is a type of USB connector. In addition to recent smart phones, USB‑C is widely used in notebooks, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, and in a wide range of electronic products, hence making USB‑C a mainstream USB port for integrating fast charge and versatile transmission applications. A USB‑C connector has 12 identical pins each on the upper and lower sides and supports reversible plugging. As compared to the more traditional USB-A and USB-B, USB‑C hence benefits from a thinner and more durable connector which also supports transmission of audio and video data.

In addition, following the launch of Type-C, USB-PD (USB Power Delivery) technology development also matured with each day. Simply put, USB-PD is a unified charging protocol which allows USB-C to have "Charging" functionality. Along with the emergence of USB-PD, continuous increase in USB transmission speeds, Type-C specifications - most importantly - incorporate all the above-mentioned advantages and became the optimal solution, hence making the Type-C specification one of the most commonly seen USB connector solutions in the marketplace.

With the EU mandating USB-C as the standard charging port by 2024, global adoption is accelerating. For system engineers and product developers, this shift enables easier design compatibility and streamlined logistics. As of October 2022, the EU Parliament officially approved the "Single Mobile Charging Port", hence starting from the end of 2024, all electronic products marketed in EU member countries must have a Type-C port to bring about consumer convenience, monetary savings, and environment protection. It has become obvious that USB Type-C will be playing an increasingly larger and significant role in our daily lives.

FSP Power Solution provides certified, industrial-grade USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery modules and adapters—ideal for automation, power tools, and medical electronics. Reach out to our team to discuss your integration needs.

 

Recommendation: FSP USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery Adapters and Chargers

FSP's USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery adapters and chargers comply with international safety standards and deliver stable, efficient performance. Designed for use in industrial control, automation systems, and electric mobility applications, these power supplies ensure reliable integration across global markets.

 

FSP240-A2AR3 – 240W USB 3.1 Type C PD Desktop Adapter

 

 

FSP240D-XXSA1CP – Bidirectional USB 3.1 Type C PD Charger

 

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Need Help Choosing the Right Adapter?

For more details on FSP's full range of USB 3.1 Type C Power Delivery adapters and chargers, visit our Product Page or contact us directly. Our power experts are here to help you build smarter, safer power systems.

 

Coming Soon: The 240W PD Charger! Get ready for our upcoming 240W PD Charger with ITE approval and 65W PD Charger with Medical Class I approval. Stay tuned for more details!