One of the great things about USB-C become so popular on all types of devices is that it is an incredibly capable port (plus, it is more durable than the old micro-USB), which is why it has made it possible to combine all types of accessories with modern phones. A popular option today is to use a controller like the Backbone, which plugs into the USB-C port and allows you to play console-style games in a much more comfortable way.
But there’s actually a lot more you can do with a USB-C port, and it can turn your phone into an even more useful device for all kinds of things. Or sometimes it may just improve your experience. Here are some uses you may not have tried yet.
Move files
USB-C and SSD flash drives
One of the most basic use cases for your USB-C port is to use it for external storage. Many external USB drives these days use USB-C ports and you can connect them directly to your phone to manage files on your USB drive or back up files from your phone if you don’t want to rely on cloud storage. I used this several times when I wanted to print something and didn’t have a printer at home, so I could easily grab a file on my phone and save it to a drive to give to the printing service.
But there’s also a potentially more interesting use case for this. With the rise of Portable SSDsNow you can get very fast and high capacity external storage that you can use to record videos. I’ve used this before when recording longer videos that I didn’t want to take up space on my phone’s internal storage, especially if I was planning on editing those videos on my PC anyway. Many phones allow you to record directly to external storage and this can be very useful. Just make sure the USB connection is stable so your files don’t get damaged.
- Ability
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Unit not included
- Force
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Bus driven
- Speed
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Up to 10 Gbps
- Connection
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USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (or cable included)
- Portable
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Yeah
- Updatable
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Yeah
This small portable SSD enclosure gives you fast external storage anywhere and works with your phone and PC.
A better listening experience
USB-C Headphones and Earphones
It’s probably a bit of a strange sight, but I don’t like using Bluetooth for my audio needs. I’ve gotten used to it for the most part, but I find that audio latency can be quite noticeable, connection issues are not that uncommon, and support for multiple devices can be iffy. Not all devices and platforms handle Bluetooth reliably.
A physical physical connection is always more reliable, but the convenience of wireless is still too great to ignore. That’s why I love accessories like the Razer Barracuda X Headphoneswhich, instead of (or in addition to) Bluetooth, has a USB-C dongle with a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless connection. You can simply plug it into the USB-C port on your phone and start listening to music in a much smoother way, and what’s even better is that it can also work with any other USB-C device.
Razer has been one of the biggest proponents of this type of technology, with multiple HyperSpeed-branded devices, but there are a few more out there and I still love the idea.
- Microphone
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Removable
- Surround sound
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7.1 surround
- Weight
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9.6 ounces
- Battery life
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50 hours
- Driver
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Triforce 40mm
The latest Razer Barracuda X headset features Bluetooth support and a USB-C dongle for faster, more reliable wireless connectivity.
Video recording
Wireless microphones make a difference
A more recent use case I found for my phone’s USB-C port was video recording, particularly for YouTube Shorts when I don’t want to get too deep into editing and fully setting up my camera. The audio quality of my phone’s microphone isn’t that good, so I have a wireless lapel microphone in the form of the DJI Mic Mini, which connects to my phone via a USB-C receiver.
The built-in camera app on my phone doesn’t support recording with external microphones, but by using a third-party tool, I can use my microphone and get much better audio quality on my recordings, making them much more suitable for sharing. I’ve noticed that not all phones support this, but most should, and it’s a great way to produce better content without spending a fortune.
A complete desktop experience
More than a phone
Admittedly, I can’t use the latter with my own phone as it doesn’t support a proper desktop mode, but it’s not for lack of trying. Some modern Android phones, including Samsung Galaxy S phones from recent years and Google Pixel phones, support connecting to an external display and enable a “desktop” mode that lets you use your phone like a PC, while keeping it charged.
While I don’t have a compatible phone, my wife’s Pixel 9a is a fantastic example of what can be done and is particularly good for such an affordable device. It used to be that computers and phones were completely separate devices, but with a feature like this and with how powerful phones have become, there’s a good chance you don’t need both devices. You can turn your phone into a pocket computer and it can be much more useful.
Plus, if you have a USB-C monitor, it probably has its own USB ports for mouse and keyboard, so you can have a complete setup out of the box with just one port. Additionally, you may be able to use a USB-C docking station to connect the monitor and all your peripherals in one go.
USB-C changes the game
These are just a few of the different uses you can give your USB-C port, but this technology has the potential for even more. For example, there are some phone cases with a built-in power bank that connects via USB-C to give your phone an extra charge. Or maybe you fancy something like the Clicks keyboard, which gives you a physical keyboard on some supported devices. Either way, you can get a lot more out of your phone thanks to this port, and it’s worth looking into your options.
