There have been frequent reports of low-quality cables damaging devices, destroying chargers, and even causing fires. That’s why PCWorld carefully tested a variety of options, from the best USB-C cables to the dangerous ones to avoid. Here we cover precautions you must know before purchasing a USB-C cable. Learn how to spot low-quality products and choose cables that are fast, durable, and affordable.
Avoid unknown brands
This advice is valid when purchasing any electronic product, but it’s especially important when it comes to USB-C cables. You may think that a USB-C cable is simply a few strands of wire wrapped in an outer shell, but it actually contains several safety devices to ensure safe power supply.
Even if safety regulations exist, not all manufacturers comply with them. In particular, products from unknown brands sold on platforms such as Temu, AliExpress, and Amazon are likely to be less safe. Sticking to a name brand isn’t a foolproof way to buy a high-quality USB-C cable, but it will greatly reduce the likelihood of safety issues. You are also more likely to receive compensation if a problem arises.
The recommended brands are as follows.
- Anker
- apple
- belkin
- Cable Matters
- Dockcase
- JSAUX
- microsoft
- SooPii
- Ugreen
Avoid USB-C to USB-A cables
If transfer speed is important and the device and charger you are using support it, we recommend using a USB-C to USB-C cable. We do not recommend using a USB-C to USB-A cable or converting to an adapter. USB-A’s data transfer speed is limited to a maximum of 10Gbps, and its charging speed is only 15W. Some USB-C to USB-A cables claim to handle up to 100W, but this largely relies on proprietary technology and requires appropriately compatible devices and chargers.
On the other hand, the latest USB-C to USB-C cable supports data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps and fast charging of up to 240W. (However, 100W or less is still the most common.) You don’t necessarily need to buy the highest spec cable, but higher spec cables tend to be of better quality. If performance is a priority and not for powering older devices that only support USB-A, it is recommended to use USB-C for both data transfer and charging.
Choose a Thunderbolt or USB4 cable
Thunderbolt 3, 4 or 5 and USB4 cables offer the highest charging and data transfer speeds among the current USB-C specifications. Although most users don’t need the highest specifications, there is another reason to choose this cable type.
To earn the Thunderbolt or USB4 labels, more stringent specifications must be met, and Thunderbolt in particular has very high quality standards. In other words, the possibility that a Thunderbolt or USB4 cable is a low-quality or dangerous product is greatly reduced. USB-C 3.2 cables are not only slower and less performant than USB4 cables, but are also likely to be of lower quality due to their relatively lower specification requirements.
Choose a cable that is supported by your device, but there is no need to spend money on the latest specifications that your device does not support. If Thunderbolt 4 is not supported, Thunderbolt 3 is sufficient.
Check cable weight
Checking the weight of a cable may seem unnecessary, but it is a reliable way to judge quality. High-quality USB-C cables are made with thicker wire gauge. Thicker copper wiring delivers a cleaner signal. The thickness and weight of the cable are partly influenced by the outer sheath, but mostly influenced by the inner wire itself. The heavier the cable, the better it is.
As a result of my testing, there was a big difference in weight between cheap and expensive cables. The $9 USB-C cable was 38g, but the $19 cable was much heavier at 86g. Both products were the same length at 6 feet, but the $9 cable was thinner and lighter.
When purchasing cables on the Internet, it may not be easy to verify your purchase, but you can usually check the weight in the detailed specifications table. A slight difference is okay, but if you see a cable that is much lighter than the other product, you may want to reconsider purchasing it.
Avoid third-party magnetic adapters
You may have seen magnetic tip adapters that change one end of a USB-C cable to a magnetic quick release, like Apple’s now-defunct magnetic cable. These products have a high risk of hardware damage and should be avoided. In particular, many third-party magnetic adapters do not protect the pins from external damage, and some do not prevent foreign objects from shorting out the pins. Additionally, there is a possibility that an electric arc may occur because the power supply is not immediately cut off when disconnected.
The USB-C standard is designed to provide sufficient time to disconnect power when disconnecting a USB-C cable plugged into a USB-C port. However, because magnetic connections disconnect much faster, it is possible that power is still supplied even after the connection is lost. This can cause electric arcing and potential damage to the device.
Avoid using old USB-C cables
You may want to keep using the old USB-C cable you already have. However, the USB-C standard has improved significantly over time, and early USB-C cables were not only slow but could be dangerous.
In my testing with older USB-C cables, I found that older USB-C cables could deliver too much power, potentially damaging the port or destroying the device. Instead of using an old cable, investing a few dollars to buy a new USB-C cable can save you all kinds of headaches and make your life easier with faster data transfer and charging speeds.
editor@itworld.co.kr
Source: www.itworld.co.kr
