E-Reader companies have had little reason to embrace new formats for the USB port. The two most common ports are Micro USB and Mini USB, since they are cheap and venders can cut down on costs. Amazon, B&N and Kobo all use outdated technologies for their ports for charging the e-reader and transferring data. There are only two brands that use USB-C in limited models; Boyue and Onyx Boox.
The main draw of USB-C is that it features a smaller connector shape that’s reversible so it’s easier to plug in. USB-C cables can carry significantly more power, so they can be used to charge larger screen e-readers, such as 10.3 and 13.3 inch models. They also offer up to double the transfer speed of USB 3 at 10 Gbps, which means if you are copying a large PDF collection to your reader, it will take a shorter amount of time.
Onyx Boox and the Boyue Likebook series of e-readers all use USB-C as a major selling point. These are smaller companies, but have an excellent series of products that are quickly gaining traction. The Onyx Boox Note and Boyue Likebook Mimas are two products that have been selling like crazy and are not slowing down anytime soon.
USB-C has been proven to work on e-readers and many people are gravitating towards companies that are employing this technology. I believe that most of the mainstream brands like Kindle, Kobo, Nook and Tolino most adopt it.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.