differences in USB ports in terms of durability (based on what i've read and experienced)
Mini-USB (currently quite common on many dashcams):
Pros:
+ larger connector, so it's more solid and harder to damage by trying to force it in the wrong way
+ large connector makes it easier to see which way it goes in, so people are less likely to force it
+ still fairly common, cables easily available
Cons:
- the spring retainers which hold the cable into the device are actually in the device, so that when it wears out, you have to repair/replace the device or risk a loose cable that can fall out at any time
Micro-USB (Common on cell phones and newer Mini080x and other dashcams):
Pros:
+ Spring retainers are in the cable, so when they wear out, you just replace the cable instead of the device
+ Extremely common and cheap cables due to widespread use with smartphones (android, windows)
Cons:
- connector is more fragile
- small connection isn't as easy to see which way should be up, so some users may force it and break it
Micro-USB-C/3.0 (new, just now hitting the market:
Pros:
+ like micro-usb, the spring retainers are in the cable, not the plug, so when it wears out, you just replace the cable
+ reversible: can be plugged in either direction - does not matter which way is up
+ backwards compatible to USB 2.0 - you don't need a USB 3.0 charger or device to connect to this plug
+ capable of much higher data transfer rates than USB 2.0
Cons:
- Since it's still new, the cables aren't as readily available, so they aren't as cheap yet (but this will change with time)
- Again, since it's new, some people will not recognize it and think it's some new proprietary plug
Lightning (Apple iDevices):
Pros:
+ like the new USB-C, it is a reversible plug that doesn't care which way is up
+ becoming widely available since iPhones/iPads are popular
Cons:
- Spring retainers are in the plug on the device, not in the cable, so when they wear out, you have to repair/replace the device.
- cables have actual circuitry inside them so they aren't cheap.
Again, this is just from my own head. I am not citing any sources because i did not look anything up to write all this.
If I were designing a new device today and was required to choose between these 4 connectors, I would pick the USB-C connector.