Compact and reversible, the USB Type-C connector is a step in the right direction but, between data transfer and power supply, you have to choose the right cable for the right use …
The arrival of the USB Type-C connector is a priori a step forward, with its reversible format and new standards (USB 3.2, Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 thereafter). But this novelty was accompanied by the development of a veritable jungle of diverse and varied cables where it is becoming very difficult to navigate. This is because a cable with a USB Type-C connector at both ends can have several functions: data transfer (USB or Thunderbolt), video transfer (HDMI, DisplayPort) and power supply. Three functions that require that the cable be of good quality, that it has the right electronic components to prevent electrical damage to the devices, and that all the necessary pins of the socket are connected.
It is a fact, there are many cables on the market (USB Type-C to Type-C or Type-A to Type-C) that do not meet the standards. The consequences of using the wrong cable are diverse and range from the connection that does not establish, to the data transfer limited in speed, through the worst, when the device is damaged due to poor power supply. Thus, we recommend that you use the cable supplied by the manufacturer of your smartphone, if it is a USB Type-A to Type-C model.
In addition, the presence of a USB Type-C connector at the end of a cable does not give any indication of the adopted standard (it can be for example a simple USB 2.0 cable, allowing only limited speeds. at 480 Mbps, or in reality 40 Mb / s maximum). You must therefore be very vigilant when buying a cable or an adapter and have the right reflexes.
1 – What will the cable be used for?
- Do you need a USB 3.1 or Thunderbolt 3 cable? Note that there are Thunderbolt 3 cables at 20 Gbit / s (passive models) and others at 40 Gbit / s (active models), but more expensive.
- Is the cable used to charge your device? You have to be very careful when choosing a charging cable to avoid damaging your device. There are, in fact, cables that accept a maximum power of 60 W (3 A) and others capable of going up to 100 W (5 A). The choice will therefore depend on the power of the charger and what the device can accept. For example, a 60W cable is more than sufficient for smartphones and tablets. For around thirty euros, it is possible to get a “universal” USB Type-C cable that accepts the various standards and a maximum power supply of 100 W.
- Is the cable used to connect the device to a monitor? In this case, the cable must be DisplayPort or HDMI compatible, or even Thunderbolt 3 at best.
- What size cable do you need? A longer cable costs more and too much length can influence performance due to signal degradation.
Our selection of USB 3.1 Type-C and power cables
RAMPOW USB C 3.1 Gen2 cable: 1 m cable compatible with USB 3.1 Gen2 and Power Delivery 3.0. Data rates up to 10 Gbit / s and power supply up to 100 W. Transmission of a 4K video signal. Price: around 21 euros.
Anker Powerline III: 1.8m USB-IF certified cable. Power supply up to 60 W and speeds up to 480 Mbit / s (USB 2.0). Price: around 14 euros.
UGreen cUSB C to USB C 3.1 cable: 1 m cable with power up to 60 W and USB speeds up to 5 Gbit / s. Also allows the display of a 4K image at 60 Hz. Price: around 12 euros.
Anker USB-C to Lightning Cable: 90cm MFi certified cable to connect your iPhone (from model 8) to a USB Type-C Power Delivery charger. Compatible with fast charging. Price: around 15 euros.
2 – Focus on certification
A good idea is to go to the official standards websites Usb (USB-IF) and Thunderboltbecause they have cable lists that have received certification, which guarantees their proper functioning.
Some of the cable brands that have received certification include Belkin, ACON, Cable Matters, Elecom, HP, Luxshare, Startech and even Amazon. We should also mention the many tests that Benson leung, a Google engineer, in order to detect which cables do not comply with the USB 3.1 standard.
Our selection of Thunderbolt 3 cables
Belkin – F2CD084bt0.8MBK: 0.8m cable Thunderbolt certified, speeds up to 40 Gbit / s, compatible with 5K monitors, power supply up to 100 W. Price: around 36 euros.
CHOETECH 2M Thunderbolt 3 cable: 2 m active cable, offers speeds up to 40 Gbit / s and power supply up to 100 W. Price: around 56 euros.
Anker Thunderbolt 3 Cable: 50cm cable compatible with Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 Gen1 and Gen2. Speeds up to 40 Gbps and power up to 100 W. Handles 4K and 5K monitors. Price: around 50 euros.
Thunderbolt 3 Cable Matters: 2m Thunderbolt certified cable. Manages a power supply up to 100 W. Data rates up to 20 Gbit / s. Price: around 32 euros.
3 – Recognize the right cable
USB Type-C cables must have a logo, either linked to USB 3.1 (mention SS for Gen1 or SS 10 for Gen2), or indicating that it is a Thunderbolt 3 model (a lightning bolt with the number 3).
It is also necessary to check the thickness of the cable, as well as the connector.
The latter must be in one block, without closure on the top. Either way, beware of cables that are priced too low as this is often a bad sign.