Converters

Small plugs that change a cable's end

A converter is a small plug, with no lead, that fits on the end of a cable or into a socket and changes it to another kind: USB-A to USB-C, USB-C to USB-A, micro-USB to USB-C and so on. They keep old cables, chargers and gadgets in use after a phone changes plug. A converter with a USB-C socket and a USB-A plug lets a USB-C to USB-C cable go into an old charger with the rectangular socket. A converter from micro-USB to USB-C turns an old cable into one for a new phone. They are small enough to keep on a keyring or in a bag for the day the cable you have does not match the socket in front of you.

What is here

• Single USB-C to USB adapters in an aluminium shell, in USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 versions and several colours, for plugging keyboards, game controllers, flash drives, card readers and drives into a USB-C phone or laptop, or for adding a USB-C socket where you need one. They carry data and charging.
• A set of small adapters covering USB-C to USB 3.0, a USB-C socket on a USB plug, and micro-USB to USB-C, for laptops, phones and car chargers that use different plugs.
• A USB-C plug to USB-C socket adapter with a foldable holder that props the phone up on a desk or a bedside table as it charges.

Male, female and which way round

Listings name a converter by its two ends, and "male" and "female" mean plug and socket. Work out what you have and what you are plugging it into. If your cable has USB-C at the charger end and your charger has the old rectangular USB-A socket, you need a USB-C socket on a USB-A plug. If your phone is USB-C and your cable ends in micro-USB, you need a micro-USB socket on a USB-C plug. Write the two ends down before you choose.

What a converter carries, and when a cable is better

A converter passes on what the cable and charger send, up to its own limit, so check the listing for whether it carries data as well as power. Old micro-USB and USB-A cables were not made for USB Power Delivery, so a converter on one will charge a new phone, but usually not at its fastest. And every converter adds a joint that can work loose, so for the cable you use every day, a cable with the right plugs at each end is better. See charging cables, and the guide to which charging cable your phone needs.

Questions people ask about converters

Can I use a converter with a micro-USB gadget?

Yes. A converter on the end of a USB-C cable lets it charge an old micro-USB torch, speaker or pair of earbuds, so one cable does for both.

Will a USB 3.0 converter make my phone charge faster?

No. USB 3.0 is about copying files, and it helps only if the phone, the converter and the drive all support it.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• OTG adapters
• USB-C to Lightning adapters
• USB-A to USB-C cables
• USB-C accessories
• USB-A accessories
• Travel kits
• Guide: Which charging cable does my phone need?