Connecting to Apple USB-C port with USB-A and USB 3 (USB-3) cables

One telltale sign that the M3 iMac does not have USB-A ports on it, despite Apple stating USB 3 or USB 3.1 is that USB-A ports are rectangular and USB-C ports are smaller and rounded at each end. The last iMac to use USB-A (USB 3.0) ports was the 2020 27-in Intel iMac. The M3 iMac pictures on its technical spec page show smaller USB-C ports.

I continue to use these reliable USB-C to USB-A adapters instead of similar function cables for USB-A connector peripherals.

donfromsandy wrote:

Based on this reference (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB) and personal experience, one would expect a USB 3.n port to be a Type-A connector with a blue insert which would be backward compatible with older ubiquitous USB Type-A connectors with the white insert. That is not the case. One must use an adaptor (i.e. USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple) to connect a USB 3 cable to the USB 3 ports on the new iMac. Am I misunderstanding or is Apple taking liberty with their naming conventions?

USB 3.0 is a protocol that runs over multiple types of connectors. These include:

• USB 3.0 A
• USB 3.0 B
• USB 3.0 Micro-B
• USB-C

https://www.cablestogo.com/learning/connector-guides/usb

Right on and in my desk, I think I have examples of all of them! For instance, if you've ever bought a portable USB 3.0 hard drive, odds are that it has a USB 3.0 Micro-B port – and came with a USB 3.0 Micro B to USB 3.0 A cable. You can get USB-C to USB 3.0 Micro B cables that cut out the middleman.

People also use "USB 3.0" to refer to USB-A ports that support USB 3.0, but that is not the only meaning.

donfromsandy wrote:

That is very interesting. Is this a curious way Apple advertises they are putting "old" electronics behind a new style port for the expected backward compatibility as well as for USB-C and/or Thunderbolt? One just needs an adaptor.

USB-C is just a connector, and some standards that devices use to figure out how to talk with each other across that connector. Even though it was created to support features that USB-A can't support, there is no guarantee that any particular USB-C port will support all of the good features.

I believe, for instance, that standards would allow one to offer a USB-C port that only supports USB protocol at USB 1.0 and 2.0 speeds! Users might consider this a cruel joke, but it is allowed.

That said, most USB-C ports (power/charging ports excepted) will support "traditional" USB of some kind. This isn't an Apple-specific thing. The goal was to offer backwards compatibility with "traditional" USB, even as the industry moved to a more modern, more capable connector.

+1 That you can use most any USB-C to USB adapter.

I have a pair of the > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z768LCW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?

and three > https://www.target.com/p/philips-usb-c-to-3-0-usb-a-female-adapter/-/A-79804275

USB-C to USB adapters that work with the later Intel and Silicone Mac's.

Bought my wife a new iMac with 4 USB C. Are they supposed to charge the rechargeable mouse and keyboard, because they don't seem to? Seems to me the supplied cable should plug into one of thoe 4 ports and be able to charge the mouse/keyboard. Is there a hardware monitoring widget that notifies the user when the mouse/keyboard is low in charge, and perhaps also notifies if the attached device is charging that I havent set in settings somewhere?

Thank you

donfromsandy wrote:

Based on this reference (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB) and personal experience, one would expect a USB 3.n port to be a Type-A connector with a blue insert which would be backward compatible with older ubiquitous USB Type-A connectors with the white insert.

Although this is basically true. The USB 3.x standard is also available on USB-C type ports ... as well as Thunderbolt 3/4 standards on these same ports. It's the electronics "behind" the port that makes the difference.

Hawklord1858 wrote:

Bought my wife a new iMac with 4 USB C. Are they supposed to charge the rechargeable mouse and keyboard, because they don't seem to? Seems to me the supplied cable should plug into one of thoe 4 ports and be able to charge the mouse/keyboard. Is there a hardware monitoring widget that notifies the user when the mouse/keyboard is low in charge, and perhaps also notifies if the attached device is charging that I havent set in settings somewhere?

Thank you

My Mac puts up notifications when the battery charge level on my wireless Apple keyboard and wireless Apple mouse start getting low.

The keyboard is rechargeable; the mouse takes "AA" batteries. Both are ones I used with an older Mac.

I grabbed an Apple Lightning to USB-A cable and daisy-chained it with an Apple USB-C to USB adapter. When I plugged the keyboard into a front-panel USB-C port, the charging icon in System Settings > Keyboard changed slightly. The estimated keyboard charge level remained frozen as long as I was anywhere in System Settings. I quit out of System Settings, launched it again, and the reported charge level jumped by 8%.

Your Mac is probably charging your keyboard, but just not doing a good job of telling you that it is doing it.

Well, send Apple feedback.

If you think Apple should state USB C instead of USB 3, feel free to send them feedback.

Product Feedback - Apple

You mean like this?