From laptops to phones to wireless Bluetooth speakers, earbuds and more, USB-C connections have become the de facto standard for charging and data transfer of devices. While USB-C is just about everywhere now, including longstanding holdout Apple since the iPhone 15, not all ports or cables are the same. They look identical, sure, and have some interoperability, but there are ratings for different charging and data speeds. That can make choosing a USB-C cable more complicated than it should be.
This guide will help you determine exactly what you need the next time you’re cable shopping. You might not need the most expensive USB-C cable, but understanding why you might is important, too. So with that said, let’s start with the basics and go from there.
What is USB-C?
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. The latest version, Type-C, is arguably the most universal USB type yet. It is found in everything from phones to cameras to laptops — really just about any new tech that needs charging. It’s the name of the connection port on a piece of electronic equipment, as well as the cable that connects them. USB-C can be used to charge devices and transfer data between devices. The USB-C standard was developed by the USB Implementers Forum, or USB-IF for short. That forum consists of a number of companies you’re probably familiar with, including Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Samsung and others.
Like Apple’s Lightning connector, USB-C’s plug orientation is reversable. Gone are the days of three attempts to plug in a USB-A cable the right way. No more will you fight a micro-USB cable due to its odd angular design. Just grab a USB-C cable and plug it in.
You can get USB-C cables with different connectors at the other end, should you need them. For example, some legacy devices and cheaper accessories still use USB-A, so a USB-C-to-USB-A cable, dongle or adapter is required. Cables for that exist, as do cables that have a standard USB-C connector at a 90-degree angle, which can help keep your desk tidy.
Can all USB-C cables transfer data and power?
The short answer is no. That’s good news if you just want a relatively cheap charging cable, because they’re cheaper to make with no data transfer components inside. Unfortunately, it does mean that you need to be careful when buying your cables. If you want one to transfer data, like from a computer to an external hard drive or SSD, check you’re getting a cable that handles data as well.
How fast can USB-C charge my devices?
One of the most common uses for USB-C is to charge devices like phones, tablets and even laptops. That’s a boon for travelers who want to take a single cable and charger for their myriad gadgets.
However, the speed at which a USB-C cable can charge varies. The most capable cables can charge at up to 240 watts, more than enough to fast-charge power-hungry laptops. The free cable supplied with your earbuds, on the other hand, likely tops out at around 20 watts. So it will charge your gear, but much, much slower.
Unfortunately, there is usually no way to know how fast your cable can charge just by looking at it. That’s a major downside to the world of USB-C charging, and one reason you might want to invest in a label maker if you have a lot of cables.
It’s also important to remember that even a 240-watt cable is limited by the charger it’s connected to. That cable, when connected to a 20-watt adapter, will charge at 20 watts — there’s just no way of getting around that.
The speed at which your device can accept power is also a consideration. Smaller devices, such as wireless earbuds, won’t accept as much power as something like a 16-inch MacBook Pro, no matter which cable or power adapter you use. This is often an intentional choice by the maker to avoid overheating smaller batteries, like those found in AirPods. In other cases, it might come down to the performance of the components inside the device. Two tablets, both with USB-C, might charge at different speeds even with the same charger and cable.
How fast can USB-C transfer data?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a USB-C charging port instead of a Lightning port.
If choosing a USB-C cable for charging can be a minefield, things really ratchet up in complexity when we look at transferring data. Not least because the names of the specifications change fairly often. These are the latest — and therefore most likely — versions you’ll come across.
The fastest cables for the fastest devices
Most new cables are rated for USB 3.2, which is itself split into two different specs. USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 supports up to 10 gigabits per second, whereas USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 supports up to 20 Gbps.
You might occasionally see some older specs, including USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 (previously called, confusingly, 3.1 Gen 2) which is also 10 Gbps, and USB 3.2 Gen 1×1, which is only 5 Gbps. These are compatible with newer gear, but won’t be able to transfer data as quickly as the newer cables.
Those who have devices and accessories capable of even higher data transfer speeds can choose USB4 Version 1.0, which is rated for 40 Gbps. Finally, USB4 Version 2.0 is the newest technology and is rated for a whopping 80 Gbps — best suited to high-speed external storage systems and premium USB-C hubs.
Cheaper — and sometimes older — cables might adhere to older, slower standards. Given how inexpensive USB cables can be, they’re likely not worth the money saved unless you don’t care about data transfer speeds.
Slower cables for low-speed devices
At the other end of the scale, you might find some cables that are rated for USB 3 or even USB 2. They’re usually designed for power transfer or low-data devices, such as a mouse or game controller.
Thankfully, these are starting to die out, but for completeness, USB 2 maxes out at just 480 Mbps while USB 3 can reach 5 Gbps. That’s half the speed of USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 and a quarter of the speed a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 cable can muster.
We’d suggest avoiding USB 2 and USB 3 cables unless speed really isn’t important to you. Thankfully, cable prices aren’t all that different unless you’re looking to buy the longest of the long ones. There is little benefit to choosing a slower cable if you need data transfer capabilities.
Can USB-C be used to send video to a monitor?
Another aspect of USB-C’s truly universal characteristics is that it can handle video signals alongside data and power. You can connect a USB-C laptop to a USB-C monitor and send data to the latter and power to the former, all over a single cable.
But, as you’ve probably already guessed, it isn’t always that simple: Not all cables can handle video signals. Only cables rated for USB 3.2 Gen 2 (an old specification) or higher support video. Using the newest specifications, you need a cable rated for USB Gen 1×2 or better.
Is USB-C the same as Thunderbolt?
While USB-C and Thunderbolt use the same connector, they aren’t the same on the inside.
The newest specification is Thunderbolt 5, capable of transferring the same 240 watts of power as USB-C and reaching up to 80 Gbps for data purposes. Thunderbolt 4 reduces that speed to 40 Gbps.
Not all USB-C ports or cables support Thunderbolt, but Thunderbolt ports and cables will work with USB-C devices. The speeds of those ports will vary based on the specifications. Thunderbolt is normally found on laptops and tablets, such as the M4 iPad Pro, but not on phones. Not yet, at least.
Hubs and docking stations
As laptops have started to remove ports in favor of making them thinner and more attractive, hubs and docks have come to the fore. USB-C hubs and docks are essentially the same thing in everything but name and they do the same thing — they turn one laptop port into many different ports.
As an example, a USB-C hub connects to a USB-C port on your laptop like any other accessory. Some even have their own external power supply. The hub then has its own ports to use with other devices and accessories. Those ports could just be more USB-C ports for charging and data, or USB-A for legacy gear or HDMI and DisplayPort for connecting monitors. Ethernet and memory card slots are other common features.
When it comes to choosing one, you’ll need to check that the hub or dock has all the ports that you need, of course, but also that the USB-C port on your computer supports the hub’s performance needs. If it doesn’t, you risk incompatibility and some ports not functioning as they should. Hubs usually come with their own cables, often built in. That’s one less thing to worry about, at least.
