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Best Buy Has a Lot More USB Type-C Accessories Than Staples

In San Diego, California's Carmel Mountain Ranch area, we stopped by a Staples store to look for USB Type-C cables and adapters but were surprised that there was a very poor selection despite USB Type-C now being commonly found in computers, phones, and tablets.

Fortunately, there was a Best Buy right next door where there was a wide selection of USB Type-C products.

Best Buy's USB Type-C power and adapter product selection are dominated by J5create as well as Best Buy's own Insignia brand.  

From J5create, the J5create USB Type-C Multi-Adapter JCA374 allows you to add USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, HDMI 1.4, and Gigabit Ethernet ports while the J5create USB 3.1 Type-C Charging Bridge JCH349 allows you to add a single USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port while allowing you to connect a USB Power Delivery based charging adapter. Best Buy also has a simpler Insignia USB Type-C adapter which is basically a USB Type-C to Type-A female adapter that allows you to connect USB Type-A devices to your USB Type-C computer, tablet, or phone.

For cables, J5create has its J5create USB 3.1 Type-C to Type-C Cable JUCX03 which can support USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s) while Best Buy also has their Insignia 6ft USB Type-C to Micro-B cable which is useful if you need to connect your USB micro-B phone to a USB Type-C port on a computer or charger.

Insignia has also other USB Type-C to video adapter solutions like the Insignia USB Type-C to VGA Adapter and Insignia USB Type-C to HDMI  Adapter which allow you to connect computers, tablets, and phones with DisplayPort Alternate Mode enabled USB Type-C ports to monitors and TV's.

In the USB Cables and Adapters section, again Insignia and J5create were well represented.

The Insignia USB Type-C to HDMI & USB 3.0 with Power Delivery acts more like a dock, allowing you to connect your USB Power Delivery charger, HDMI TV/monitor, and USB Type-A peripheral or cable to your USB Type-C computer that supports USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode.

J5create also sells the J5create Thunderbolt 3 Cable (1.65 ft) if you need a cable to connect with a Thunderbolt 3 enabled Mac of Windows PC.

Belkin also has their own display section showing various cables including the MIXIT 2.0 USB-A to USB-C Charge Cable which can be used for charging or USB 2.0 data transfers.

Native Union also had their own display section showing their brand of design conscious, rugged cables using materials which feel comfortable to the touch. Native Union has USB Type-C cables like the Native Union BELT Cable USB-A to USB-C - 4ft.

Best Buy also had a wide variety of USB charging accessories, with most brands like Anker, Atomi, and J5create supporting Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 over USB Type-A connectors.

Atomi chargers like the Atomi Power Tower Plus and Atomi Power Station Pro did have chargers that supported USB Type-C but we found out later through testing that they did not support USB Power Delivery.

Of course, Samsung promoted their own Adaptive Fast Charge technology with the Samsung Fast Charge Dual-Port Car Charger and Samsung EP-PG920IBUGUS Wireless Charging Pad with 2A.

Interestingly, the only USB Power Delivery based charger was found in the Android section with Best Buy's own Insignia USB Type-C Vehicle Charger.

The lack of USB Power Delivery based chargers is disappointing even the number that is available through Amazon and Best Buy's position as being the leader in introducing new technologies to American consumers and many phones sold at Best Buy like the Moto Z family already support USB Power Delivery based charging.

Overall though, we were happy to see Best Buy provide a significantly many USB Type-C peripheral solutions compared to Staples and certainly a lot more compared to a year ago. As USB Type-C and Power Delivery enabled devices continue to proliferate in the market, Staples will have to follow Best Buy's lead in this area.