USB-C has become the universal standard connector, but the technology inside the cable varies widely. A cable that looks identical to your laptop charger might only transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds. Here is what you need to know before buying your next cable.
1. Charging Power (Power Delivery)
Most basic USB-C cables support up to 60W of power. If you are charging a powerful laptop (like a 16-inch MacBook Pro), you will need a 100W or 240W-rated cable with an e-marker chip to negotiate safe charging currents.
2. Data Transfer Speeds
Basic charging cables only support USB 2.0 speeds (480 Mbps). For high-speed file transfers, look for cables rated for USB 3.2 (up to 20 Gbps) or USB4/Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40 Gbps), which allow transferring a 4K movie in seconds.
3. Video Output Support
Not all cables support external monitor displays. Make sure the cable specification explicitly states "DP Alt Mode" (DisplayPort Alternate Mode) compatibility if you plan to connect your laptop directly to a USB-C monitor.