Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Despite the prevalence of USB-C as a modern standard, many new electronic devices, ranging from portable photo printers to streaming sticks, still utilize the outdated Micro USB port for charging and data transfer. This continued reliance on older technology creates frustration for consumers who expected universal compatibility. The author recounts their personal experience with an HP Sprocket portable printer gifted last year, highlighting the annoyance of discovering yet another device requiring a Micro USB cable.
The Micro USB Enigma in a USB-C World
The frustration stemmed from encountering a Micro USB port shortly after having minimized their collection of these increasingly obsolete cables. USB-C, introduced in 2014, was intended to be a universal connector, offering rapid data and power transfer while eliminating the need for various proprietary chargers. While the original HP Sprocket in 2016 launched when USB-C adoption was limited to premium laptops and Android smartphones, the second edition in 2018 – the last update to this compact printer – arrived as USB-C was becoming increasingly common.
Why?
Beyond Photo Printers: Widespread Use of Micro USB
This issue isn’t isolated to a single HP photo printer. Recent experiences include a cat nail grinder and a stress-relief wearable, both requiring Micro USB. Social media is replete with complaints about new gadgets stubbornly clinging to the outdated connector including:
- Kitchen appliances
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
- Roku streaming devices
- Garmin bike lights
Adding to the confusion, product descriptions often lack clarity regarding USB port types. Devices like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K may simply list “USB” for charging, with ambiguous product photos. Consumers often need to utilize hidden features like “View in 3D” just to discover the presence of a Micro USB port.
Unraveling the Persistence of Micro USB
After a decade of USB-C, the question remains: why is Micro USB still so prevalent? Jeff Ravencraft, president and COO of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), cites several contributing elements. These include cost considerations, supply chain complexities, existing inventory, and retail channel inventory.
Refresh Cycles and Inventory Overhang
Extended product refresh cycles are a significant factor. Even purchasing a device in 2025 does not guarantee USB-C connectivity. Consider the example of airplanes; despite the USB-IF collaborating with Panasonic Avionics to integrate USB-C into airplane seats, widespread adoption will be slow. Airplanes, designed for decades of service, require significant investment for upgrades. The automotive industry, with its five to ten-year cycles, faces similar delays.
Existing inventory further complicates the transition. Manufacturers potentially hold substantial stock of older devices like the second-edition Sprocket. Ravencraft suggests that significant change will only occur as these existing inventories are depleted across warehouses and retail channels.
The Cost Factor: Less Significant Than Perceived?
While cost is a consideration, its impact may be diminishing. Affordability is a key competitive differentiator, particularly for Asian manufacturers, where even minor cost savings are important. However, Ravencraft questions the current cost advantages of Micro USB over USB-C, suggesting the price difference may no longer be substantial.
EU Mandate Accelerates USB-C Adoption
Positive developments are on the horizon. An EU regulation, effective December, mandates USB-C charging for virtually all new devices sold within the European Union. This initiative aims to reduce electronic waste. Covered devices include mobile phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, game consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, navigation systems, and earbuds. Laptops have until April 2026 to comply. Due to the importance of the European market, this legislation is expected to drive global USB-C adoption. Apple’s adoption of USB-C for the iPhone 15, abandoning its proprietary Lightning port, exemplifies this trend.
Micro USB cables may soon be relics of the past, but that day is not today.
Loopholes and the Transition Period
While the EU mandate is a significant step, it isn’t all-encompassing. Printers, like the HP Sprocket, are not explicitly included. Similarly, the directive does not prohibit proprietary chargers if USB-C charging is also supported, as seen with MacBooks and MagSafe. A hypothetical third-edition HP Sprocket with USB-C as its sole upgrade presents a dilemma: upgrading solely to eliminate Micro USB might be wasteful while the longevity of existing Micro USB devices necessitates keeping some cables.
Personal Anecdote: The Enduring Micro USB Cable
The author’s Shure MV7 microphone, released in 2020 with a Micro USB port and discontinued in 2024, remains functional but inconvenient for travel due to requiring dongles to connect to USB-C laptops. Despite the availability of newer versions, the practical and cost-effective solution was purchasing a Micro USB to USB-C cable in 2025.
The Inevitable Shift to USB-C
Ravencraft assures that USB-C adoption is progressing rapidly and will become dominant as more regions adopt similar regulations to the EU. While confidently discarding Micro USB cables remains premature, the future points towards near-universal USB-C connectivity. For now, holding onto a few Micro USB cables and hoping for no more Micro USB gadget gifts is the pragmatic approach.