With USB-C, you can easily connect all sorts of peripherals to your smartphone. This includes things like a printer, scanner, and webcam. Plus, it’s possible to use the port for other types of devices that don’t have a USB-C connection, like digital cameras and smart TVs.

OTG or On The Go accessories refer to the OTG standard for smartphone USB ports. Early smartphones had a one-way relationship with whatever you plugged into them. They could never play the “host” for devices the way that a computer does. The phone was basically seen as a smartphone accessory itself.

OTG is a technology that allows devices to be connected together using a single cable. This technology is becoming more and more popular as devices become more and more advanced. OTG allows for multiple devices to be connected at the same time, making it easier to use your device.

External Storage

OTG flash drives are a great way to store files on your mobile device. You can buy them that already have a USB-C or Micro USB port out of the box. Simply plug them into your mobile device and access the files from the file system or an app directly.

Wireless file transfer is a great convenience, but it is orders of magnitude slower than simply plugging a USB drive into your phone and blasting through a file transfer. ..

A phone won’t give you enough power to operate a mechanical external hard drive, so you’ll need a powered hub to make this setup work. With a large tablet such as the 2018 iPad Pro 12.9" (or any other device with an A12 Bionic chip), we had no issue getting a portable hard drive to work. After reformatting it from NTFS to exFat, that is.

External Microphones & Cameras

Smartphones are equipped with powerful microphones and cameras, but these features can only be used to their fullest potential if the phone’s design allows for it. ..

If you have a good quality USB microphone, you can use it as an OTG device. This means that you can, for example, record your latest podcast episode on something that sounds amazing, rather than something recorded inside a tin can. ..

Another interesting possibility is the connection of external camera equipment. There are now products out there that let you attach a third-party camera to your phone for specialized uses. The Insta360 cameras, for example, are an affordable way to turn your phone into a 360-video machine.

This is not yet something that’s natively supported by mobile operating systems. A companion app is generally required to operate these cameras once plugged in.

Keyboards, Mouses & Monitors

You can use a USB-C hub to connect your phone to a desktop computer, which is great for writing or website browsing.

There are a number of mobile interfaces available, but one that could be very useful for businesses is the Samsung Dex. This app allows users to access various Samsung devices, including TVs, smartphones, and tablets. This way, businesses can easily connect to their devices and make use of all of their features.

Game Controllers

With iOS13, Apple has added support for Xbox One S and PS4 controllers to the platform. However, on Android there is a way to use USB OTG technology to connect these controllers. This is a great addition for those who want to play games on their devices using different platforms.

Android users can easily connect their game controllers using an OTG adapter and a short micro USB cable. ..

The handheld gaming solution you’ve just created is perfect for anyone looking to game on the go. With a combined mount for your phone and gamepad, you can easily place your device in any position while gaming. Plus, the mount comes with a nice design that makes it look great.

Weird, Niche, Yet Useful Things

USB-C is a new type of connector that allows you to connect devices that use the same type of connector, like a laptop and a phone. This makes it possible to transfer data and power between devices, without having to use adapters.

USB-C monitors are thin laptop-sized displays that can work with your phone. What about a USB Midi controller to make music? Ethernet via USB is also possible, which is very weird but also useful in some cases. Have you ever considered connecting a printer to your phone? Depending on the model, it’s possible. ..

Some DSLRs also allow for communication through your phone using an app. With remote wired control, you can control the device using an app. ..

What About iOS Users?

OTG use on Android is more complicated than on iOS because Apple has transitioned to USB-C from its own in-house Lightning standard.

The latest version of the Apple Lightning Camera Connection Kit is not as reliable as people have been hoping. People have had success using the USB 3 version, but it has not worked on-the-go as well.

It is always a good idea to use Google specific accessories and whether they work with this solution. Support for external storage on iOS devices is pretty recent, but we’ve seen plenty of confirmations that it works just fine with this kit.

If you have an Apple device that uses USB-C, then you can use it to charge other devices.

Join The OTG Revolution!

While smartphones are absolutely amazing as standalone devices, you’re missing out on a lot if you ignore the potential of that unassuming little charging port. So go ahead and be bold, plug some smartphone accessories in and expand your mobile horizons.