slickbrave
Newbie
So we all know the charging cable that came with our Notes are crap. Are aftermarket USB 3 cables working better, or is the problem with the phone's charging port?
-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
USB 3 Cables
- Thread starter slickbrave
- Start date
thahim
Android Enthusiast
I usually charge my note 3 with my galaxy s4 charger it has 2.0 cable and I bought that from market its not original works fine.
DemDog
Well-Known Member
I haven't done anything more than unpack the USB 3.0 cable that came with my Note 3. Never even plugged it in since I do not have a computer with a USB 3 port that I know of. So why use it. I just plug the Note 3 into the same cable I used for my Note 2 and my wife who uses my old Note 2 uses the cable that came with my S3.
Works well with both phones for charging and also for transferring files when I do that.
As for aftermarket cable I have never used one so I can't speak about them.
Works well with both phones for charging and also for transferring files when I do that.
As for aftermarket cable I have never used one so I can't speak about them.
Simon_Gardner
Android Expert
I have about 10 various Note-3 cables lying around and only one has ever failed. That was a Samsung supposedly original. You can get a lot of different cables here.
My only advice is to avoid the stiff cables intended for static computer to peripheral drive use.
My only advice is to avoid the stiff cables intended for static computer to peripheral drive use.
slickbrave
Newbie
DemDog,
The USB 3 cable allows for faster charging, when used with the adaptor that came with your Note. However, many of the original Samsung cables do not connect properly, but aftermarket cable are available and inexpensive.
The USB 3 cable allows for faster charging, when used with the adaptor that came with your Note. However, many of the original Samsung cables do not connect properly, but aftermarket cable are available and inexpensive.
slickbrave
Newbie
Thanks, Simon. That's the kind of feedback I was looking for.
DemDog
Well-Known Member
Not what I was told. The faster charging thing. Two folks at Verizon, one in store and another on the phone said that the USB3 cable just allows for faster transfer of data between the phone and a computer.
Can't see where a cable would make it charge faster. It is the plug that puts out 2 amps that makes it charge faster I do believe.
Who really knows. I do not have a problem with the phone going dead or the battery running low so it does not make a difference to me.
Simon_Gardner
Android Expert
Whoever does some experiments?
Personally, I much prefer using a USB 3.0 Micro-B plug as it's a heck of a lot easier getting it located in the socket - especially in poor light - than those fiddly small things.
There was much discussion of the USB 3.0 Micro-B spec before launch of the Note 3 here -> http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3/764835-spec-nobody-talking-about-usb-3-0-b.html
Napalm
Android Expert
some technical details that can be overlooked
the cable that came with the note 3 is a Micro USB 3.0 cable. being USB 3.0 based is it backwards compatible with any usb 2.0 devices. ON the large end. the small end (phone end) is a microUSB cable with a bump addon on for the extra wires that make us USB 3.0
thus any USB3.0 to microUSB 3.0 cable works fine. I like monoprice.com
ALso USB 3.0 brings with it extra current capacity for charging - along with extra data rates.
that said - using the USB-micro 3.0 cable will do 2 things for you - if you have the charge brick it will pass along the full 2A to the device - if you only use a microUSB2.0 cable you won't get the full 2A, but it should be between 1 and 1.2
If on your computer you are trading files - if you don't have a USB 3.0 port then it won't matter what you use - but if you do the speed difference is significant
I just bought my note 3 today and I already have 2 microUSB 3.0 cables on order. one for the car and one for the office
the cable that came with the note 3 is a Micro USB 3.0 cable. being USB 3.0 based is it backwards compatible with any usb 2.0 devices. ON the large end. the small end (phone end) is a microUSB cable with a bump addon on for the extra wires that make us USB 3.0
thus any USB3.0 to microUSB 3.0 cable works fine. I like monoprice.com
ALso USB 3.0 brings with it extra current capacity for charging - along with extra data rates.
that said - using the USB-micro 3.0 cable will do 2 things for you - if you have the charge brick it will pass along the full 2A to the device - if you only use a microUSB2.0 cable you won't get the full 2A, but it should be between 1 and 1.2
If on your computer you are trading files - if you don't have a USB 3.0 port then it won't matter what you use - but if you do the speed difference is significant
I just bought my note 3 today and I already have 2 microUSB 3.0 cables on order. one for the car and one for the office
Bodycount
Android Enthusiast
Not true.
Charging rate is based off the amps your charger outputs. Not the cable.
You can get a 2.1 amp charger and your phone will charge at the same rate with a 2.0 cable and a 3.0 cable.
The 3.0 cable allows for faster data transfers when plugged into a 3.0 port.
Digital Controller
The Real Bass Creator
This is completely true, unless, however, if the 2.0 cable actually says on it that it provides lesser amps
.The data transfers are pretty large, but I know a lot of people don't really care/use the 3.0 for their phone anyhow since a lot of times people don't directly transfer a lot of files from phone to computer.
Napalm
Android Expert
Yes I forgot to mention.
ON the charger end it only has the 4 wires of a standard USB plug - that means when connected to the charger the other 5 wires for USB 3.0 are on in use - thus the extra volt rail on the plug is also NOT IN USE.
so you can pass the full 2A down a standard micro-USB cable. but only off a charger brick that is rated for such and that the phone recognized (common problem on moto devices and I assume others do as well more on that later)
if the charger brick or adapter is only rated for 1 amp - that's all you'll ever get.
On the recognition - some devices check the connectivity of pins 3 and 4 on the USB side before allowing charging. Moto devices especially did this and I assume other do as well. on chargers they are to be wired together with some resistance in teh 300ohm range - thus telling the phone it is connected to a charger device and not a computer USb port - thus the devices controller will allow the maximum current to flow into the battery charging.
this is why some car chargers while rated high - would charge very slowly because the pins 3 and 4 were left open - the device sees it as standard usb connections and clamps 500mA
i believe most chargers have reworked this - but if you plug in your device and it brings up USB connection options - then the device doesn't recognize it is connected to a charger only.
ON the charger end it only has the 4 wires of a standard USB plug - that means when connected to the charger the other 5 wires for USB 3.0 are on in use - thus the extra volt rail on the plug is also NOT IN USE.
so you can pass the full 2A down a standard micro-USB cable. but only off a charger brick that is rated for such and that the phone recognized (common problem on moto devices and I assume others do as well more on that later)
if the charger brick or adapter is only rated for 1 amp - that's all you'll ever get.
On the recognition - some devices check the connectivity of pins 3 and 4 on the USB side before allowing charging. Moto devices especially did this and I assume other do as well. on chargers they are to be wired together with some resistance in teh 300ohm range - thus telling the phone it is connected to a charger device and not a computer USb port - thus the devices controller will allow the maximum current to flow into the battery charging.
this is why some car chargers while rated high - would charge very slowly because the pins 3 and 4 were left open - the device sees it as standard usb connections and clamps 500mA
i believe most chargers have reworked this - but if you plug in your device and it brings up USB connection options - then the device doesn't recognize it is connected to a charger only.
Whoever keeps saying that the cable doesn't matter is, in fact, wrong.
Recently the pins in my Note 3's charger cable (the end that inserts into the phone) bent up, so that the pins weren't making contact unless i pushed the cable up with my thumb.
I also thought any usb 3.0 cable would work fine as a replacement but this is wrong. So I went ahead and bought one from China and one from Amazon
- The Original Samsung shows around 1800 mA of current flow
- The Chinese brand showed 450 mA
- The one I purchased from Amazon (Fosmon brand) shows 350 mA
To check this for yourself, you can download android apps that show the current flowing to the battery. The two I used were
- Galaxy Charging Current
- Charging Report
Recently the pins in my Note 3's charger cable (the end that inserts into the phone) bent up, so that the pins weren't making contact unless i pushed the cable up with my thumb.
I also thought any usb 3.0 cable would work fine as a replacement but this is wrong. So I went ahead and bought one from China and one from Amazon
- The Original Samsung shows around 1800 mA of current flow
- The Chinese brand showed 450 mA
- The one I purchased from Amazon (Fosmon brand) shows 350 mA
To check this for yourself, you can download android apps that show the current flowing to the battery. The two I used were
- Galaxy Charging Current
- Charging Report
Napalm
Android Expert
so you A) damanged your OE cable - and thus might have damanged the connections on your phone.
and then B) bought 2 cheap POS cables. were either cable branded, labeled etc stating they met USB 3.0 Spec?
and are you certain you haven't damaged your phone's port.
also charging current with a battery is also dependent on the battery health - so it's equally feasible your battery is dead or dying.
do you have a comparison with a good phone battery and a good cable - and finally - a good charger brick.
and then B) bought 2 cheap POS cables. were either cable branded, labeled etc stating they met USB 3.0 Spec?
and are you certain you haven't damaged your phone's port.
also charging current with a battery is also dependent on the battery health - so it's equally feasible your battery is dead or dying.
do you have a comparison with a good phone battery and a good cable - and finally - a good charger brick.
thanks for the reply,
yes I'm certain the phone's charging port is fine and have two Note 3's in the house to cancel out issues with the power plug or battery (the phones are 8 months old, and batteries last all daylong). My brother has the same phone and his cable works fine in my phone
My original cable isn't damaged beyond regular use -- the pins have simply bent a little so that when i plug it in, i have to rest the cable plug against something so that it sort if pushes up a little for contact to be made -- it works just as normal and fully charges as usual within 2hrs. In fact i'm still using it because it charges the fastest as compared to the other two cables.
And yes, clearly the cables suck compared to the original, but what I'm trying to find out is what exactly am I supposed to look for in an aftermarket cable so that it works identically to the OEM cable? (i.e. same ~1200mA of power)
What's causing the difference in amount of mA flowing through?
The Cable that i bought from amazon actually seems like good quality, its from a reputable seller, and the seller actually posted the feature that it is USB 3.0 and will work for the Note 3, along with screenshots that 900 mA will flow through from the (the only reason i bought it). This wasn't true when i tried it, because it only went up to 350mA.
I know simply buying the OEM cable will solve the problem, but I'm still curious as to how this works and why there's a difference?
Ive included some photos to show the comparisons.
Thanks!
http://imgur.com/KCtGsSC
http://imgur.com/qxJOjVc
http://imgur.com/mkInXxM - ordered from china
http://imgur.com/9svtZOC - ordered from amazon
http://imgur.com/MPXxe2C - from original cable
yes I'm certain the phone's charging port is fine and have two Note 3's in the house to cancel out issues with the power plug or battery (the phones are 8 months old, and batteries last all daylong). My brother has the same phone and his cable works fine in my phone
My original cable isn't damaged beyond regular use -- the pins have simply bent a little so that when i plug it in, i have to rest the cable plug against something so that it sort if pushes up a little for contact to be made -- it works just as normal and fully charges as usual within 2hrs. In fact i'm still using it because it charges the fastest as compared to the other two cables.
And yes, clearly the cables suck compared to the original, but what I'm trying to find out is what exactly am I supposed to look for in an aftermarket cable so that it works identically to the OEM cable? (i.e. same ~1200mA of power)
What's causing the difference in amount of mA flowing through?
The Cable that i bought from amazon actually seems like good quality, its from a reputable seller, and the seller actually posted the feature that it is USB 3.0 and will work for the Note 3, along with screenshots that 900 mA will flow through from the (the only reason i bought it). This wasn't true when i tried it, because it only went up to 350mA.
I know simply buying the OEM cable will solve the problem, but I'm still curious as to how this works and why there's a difference?
Ive included some photos to show the comparisons.
Thanks!
http://imgur.com/KCtGsSC
http://imgur.com/qxJOjVc
http://imgur.com/mkInXxM - ordered from china
http://imgur.com/9svtZOC - ordered from amazon
http://imgur.com/MPXxe2C - from original cable
Napalm
Android Expert
huh. well
first thing is conductor diameter - and quality. IE the wires inside are too small a gage for the transmittal.
even though they are wrapped in a thicker sheath. however that should affect data rate too as the power rail and ground rail would compromise signal.
IE - what they should be - is 2 power wires that are 22 or 20 AWG wires - coaxial wound around the data line wires that are most likely 24 or 26 awg wires.
with a grounded sheath line and covered with another over lay. thus the well made usb3.0 cable is fairly thick in the line - and a touch on the stiff side.
IE like the OE cable is. like the monoprice cables I bought.
I have to ask - how much did you spend on those other cables?
first thing is conductor diameter - and quality. IE the wires inside are too small a gage for the transmittal.
even though they are wrapped in a thicker sheath. however that should affect data rate too as the power rail and ground rail would compromise signal.
IE - what they should be - is 2 power wires that are 22 or 20 AWG wires - coaxial wound around the data line wires that are most likely 24 or 26 awg wires.
with a grounded sheath line and covered with another over lay. thus the well made usb3.0 cable is fairly thick in the line - and a touch on the stiff side.
IE like the OE cable is. like the monoprice cables I bought.
I have to ask - how much did you spend on those other cables?