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I have a dozen or so USB or USB to mini-USB cables lying around. It's annoying keeping track of what goes to what.

Are they interchangeable or are they device specific?

Does it change the answer if I'm expecting the device to transfer data vs. merely charge it's battery?

For example: can I expect the mini USB that charges a cell phone to also charge a PS3 controller?

Update: Thanks for the answers. As a follow up question: Would the Ferrite Bead - the cylinder on some cables - affect USB compatibility? Is that a necessary component for the functioning of it's intended device?

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5 Answers 5

up vote 14 down vote accepted

The U means universal indeed, but some manufacturers (such as Apple) choose to provide their own proprietary USB cables -- which are not interchangeable -- while others provide generic USB cables which are interchangeable.

All standard USB connectors by pinout.

In picture form: micro USB on the left, then mini USB, then regular full-size B and A USB.

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Also, on occasion you will run across a cable that looks like a USB cable, but is really not.

The ML-7 GPS tracker comes to mind. It has a A to mini-B usb cable that actually has a usb-serial converter inside the overmoulding on one end.

On the other hand, cables like that are REALLY rare.

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Note that there is a new USB 3.0 standard emerging.

Here's a news story entitled USB 3.0 - The new speed limit about it I received earlier today (2010-03-02).

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They are interchangeable but you will notice that they are not all same regarding build quality. I have bunch of mini-USB cables but only few of them can power USB hard-drive without secondary jack.

For devices not hungry for power, usually it does not matter.

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The U in USB means Universal. They're totally interchangeable. I just keep one around and the rest as backups/to lend to others, it works pretty well.

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