Searching for one of the best USB-C cable does not must be a headache. We’re right here that can assist you select the precise one and uncover the distinction between a USB-C wire and one other. The successful possibility will rely upon what’s most necessary to you, however the excellent news is that you’ve numerous choices to select from. You may also study what makes a Type-C cable higher than the remaining and all of the important bits, resembling wattage, size, and information switch speeds.
So whether or not you are attempting to juice up among the finest Android telephones or hook up with your automotive’s Android Auto with a cable, one of the best USB-C cables cash should buy are under.
Now that the iPhone 16 collection comes with USB-C, you’ll be able to seize one of many greatest USB-C cables for iPhones. Remember that the bottom iPhone 16 and 16 Plus assist USB 2.0 with 480Mbps information switch. Meanwhile, the iPhone Pro and Pro Max assist USB 3.2 Gen 2 with 10Gbps information switch.
Namerah Saud Fatmi
Namerah enjoys geeking out over equipment, devices, and all types of good knickknacks. After writing about shopper tech for almost a decade, she has develop into an knowledgeable within the Android equipment area. She spends her free time guzzling espresso, writing some extra, informal gaming, and cuddling together with her furry greatest buddies.
At a look
1. Anker USB 4 Gen 2 Cable
Best total
The Anker USB 4 Gen 2 cable earns the highest spot on our record of one of the best USB-C cables due to its USB-IF certification, 18-month guarantee, 20Gbps switch speeds, and charging speeds of as much as 240W. This can be utilized with each Android and iPhone units.
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2. UGREEN USB-C to USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Cable
Best for iPhone
Apple additionally presents the iPhone 16 USB-C. If you need to reap the benefits of the port on each the bottom and Plus fashions and the upper-tier Pro and Pro Max variants, the UGREEN USB-C to USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Cable is ideal.
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3. Amazon Basics USB Type-C to USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 Cable
Best low-cost cable
Don’t fear concerning the model identify right here, Amazon Basics nonetheless produces some dependable cables for reasonable. This one is three ft lengthy and boasts 10 Gbps information switch speeds.Â
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4. CONMDEX USB 3.1 Gen 2 Android Auto USB-C Cable
Best low-cost cable for iPhone
CONMDEX offers you an incredible take care of the USB 3.1 Gen 2 Android Auto USB-C Cable. There are two wires within the field, and you’ll select amongst 1, 2, 3.3, 6.6, and 10-foot choices. This is the most affordable Type-C cable for the iPhone 15 lineup as effectively.
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5. Chamer Thunderbolt 4 Cable
Best premium cable
With the Chamer Thunderbolt 4, you get what you pay for, which incorporates 40 Gbps and 240W speeds, 4K/5K video output, and as much as 6.6 ft of size.Â
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6. Cable Matters 20Gbps USB C to USB C Cable with USB-C 3.2
Best premium cable for iPhone
Cable Matters has a superb number of premium, long-lasting cables with excessive specs. The 20Gbps USB C to USB C Cable with USB-C 3.2 is the best premium cable for any USB-C telephone or different appropriate machine.
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7. Cable Matters USB4 Cable 2.6 ft
Best quick cable
If you simply want one thing quick to succeed in out of your desk to your machine, this 2.6-foot cable is a stellar alternative, full with 100W charging and 8K video output.Â
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8. UGREEN 240W USB-C Cable
Best sturdiness
Just as sturdy as it’s dependable, this USB-C cable from UGREEN boasts 240W assist, Power Delivery 3.1, and 6 ft of size, plus it is fairly cheap.Â
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9. Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB-A Cable
Best fashion
Available in two colour varieties, together with a classy purple, the Anker Powerline Plus additionally options 5Gbps information transferring and double-braided nylon building.
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Best total
If you need one of the best specs and excessive information speeds inside an inexpensive price range, you need the Anker USB 4 Gen 2 cable. This know-how can assist as much as 20Gbps information speeds on Android telephones and appropriate iPhones. It additionally features a 4K video transmission and as much as 240W charging speeds. The Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C cable may give you precisely that.
This three-foot-long cable from Anker could look bland and unremarkable, however its spec sheet makes this a worthwhile buy. You can depend on that USB-IF certification for security, even when it does not have probably the most sturdy construct. As that is an E-Marked wire, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that it will ship the quickest charging pace along with your 60W or 100W USB-C charger.
Another plus is that Anker points an 18-month guarantee with the Powerline II. Whether it is advisable to cost your smartphone, laptop computer, or Chromebook, this Type-C wire is the optimum alternative. I want this cable got here in numerous colours, just like the lovable Anker Flow collection of USB-C wires.
Best for iPhone
The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus function a USB-C connector that helps USB 2 for as much as 480MB. The iPhone 16 Pro and the Pro Max include a USB-C connector that helps USB 3 for as much as 10Gbps.
Naturally, these specs are ineffective until you get the precise cable. It does not make sense to get an historical USB profile like USB 2.0. Instead, get one thing future-proof just like the value-packed UGREEN USB-C to USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Cable. Not solely can it ship the best 10Gbps switch speeds to the Pro and Pro Max iPhone 16 fashions, but it surely’s additionally an e-marked cable.
E-marked cables or 5A USB-C cables can take masses over 60W, all the best way as much as 240W. So you’ll be able to quick cost different units resembling Chromebooks or MacBooks with this. It additionally has Thunderbolt 3, which is a candy profit.
Best low-cost cable
Amazon Basics caters to the price range aspect of USB-C cables, and you would be stunned how respectable the model’s providing is. This one-foot-long USB Type-C to USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 Cable is available in two plain shades: darkish grey or silver.
The Amazon cable helps 5V and 3A energy output, which equals a 15W charging pace. While you do not get loopy quick charging speeds, transferring information is swift enterprise due to USB 3.1 Gen 2 bundles with USB 3.0 and a pair of.0 backward compatibility. Impressively, the Amazon Basics C-to-A wire is able to as much as 10Gbps switch speeds, and it’s USB-IF Certified.
As USB-A is already fairly outdated, it is okay you can’t use the Amazon Basics wire with displays, and there aren’t any fancy extras like Qualcomm’s QC quick charging tech. Chances are, you may solely use this cable to maneuver media and information to an older machine and never for charging functions. From that perspective, this primary Type-C to A cable offers some worth in your coin.
Best low-cost cable for iPhone
It’s laborious to consider that the CONMDEX USB 3.1 Gen 2 Android Auto USB-C Cable prices so little. For lower than $15, you get a set of two USB-C to USB-A wires which are completely appropriate with the iPhone 16’s lower-specced 480Mbps and higher-specced 10Gbps information switch speeds.
According to CONMDEX, this USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C wire is nylon braided and has an 18-month Breakage Assurance. You can use it in your automotive with Android Auto or high up your iPhone with it. The cables assist QC 3.0 for quick charging.
There are loads of sizes and colours obtainable to buy. You can get a two-pack in 1, 2, 3.3, 6.6, and 10-foot choices. The assortment of shades obtainable ranges from darkish hues like black and grey to shiny colours resembling orange, blue, inexperienced, purple, and white, so you’ll be able to even match it to your automotive.
Best premium cable
The Chamer Thunderbolt 4 cable presents super-fast information switch speeds of as much as 40Gbps and charging outputs of as much as 240W. It connects to Thunderbolt 4 hosts, which is not one thing you may discover in your on a regular basis bargain-bin USB-C wires.
The Thunderbolt 4 USB-C wire boasts a nylon braided plus aluminum alloy shell, which appears to be like implausible. You should buy this Type-C cable in 3-foot and 6.6-foot lengths. As is the case with most of those superior wires, you solely get a single-color mannequin. This wire works with each Android and iOS telephones which have Type-C ports.
The USB-C cable guarantees to ship video output in 5K and 8K resolutions. If you want a flexible wire to juice up your USB-C units and hook up your monitor, the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 is a superb alternative. But take into account that the quick model is a 3-foot possibility, so that is just for quick distances, but it surely’s good to be used in your house workplace.
Best premium cable for iPhone
Cable Matters makes among the greatest cables and cords on the planet. This 20Gbps USB C to USB C Cable with USB-C 3.2 is very versatile as a result of it has many high-end USB specs. First, it is a USB-C 3.2 type-C wire, so in fact, it helps the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max’s 10Gbps information speeds.
You may also use this 3-foot cable to stream video, supporting 4K video at 120Hz and 8K at 30Hz. While a 6-foot possibility is offered, it doesn’t have the identical specs and limits information switch speeds to fiveGbps, so it is important to be aware of this trade-off when you want one thing longer.
The excellent news is that the Cable Matters 10Gbps USB C to USB C Cable has a excessive ranking. Because it is a PD e-marked 5A cable, you’ll be able to cost at speeds as excessive as 240W. We simply want it had Thunderbolt 4 to finish the image.
Best quick cable
This unassuming black cable boasts the cutting-edge USB 4 spec, so it could possibly additionally assist 40Gbps information speeds at a implausible value. Cable Matters additionally included Thunderbolt 3 and 4 assist and backward compatibility for USB 3.2, 3.1, and a pair of.0. The wire can also be USB-IF Certified, making it a surefire-compatible cable for Android and iOS units.
With such a sophisticated USB-C wire in your fingers, transferring media information or massive chunks of knowledge can be decreased to a significantly decrease timeframe. You can use the Cable Matters USB4 Cable to cost units as much as 240W, so issues like your laptop computer will possible high up exceedingly quick.
Cable Matters additionally added assist for 8K and 4K high-res movies. Hook it up along with your appropriate monitor and luxuriate in crispy footage with this compact, future-proof cable. Again, this cable solely is available in a single hue. If you discover the two.6-foot size too quick, one other measurement possibility measures 3.3 ft, but it surely prices a number of extra {dollars}.
Best sturdiness
Are you searching for one thing that may deal with insane charging speeds with out setting your home on hearth? Try the UGREEN USB-C Cable, which is rated for 240W speeds. This e-marked USB-C cable is resilient in additional methods than one, owing to the nylon braiding in its design. Thanks to such sturdy building, breakage can be a far-off dream.
This UGREEN cable additionally consists of Power Delivery 3.1. It can stretch out throughout six ft, permitting you to take a seat comfortably whereas charging your telephone. In addition, it is appropriate with many units, resembling laptops and tablets.
The one caveat of this cheerfully low-cost Type-C cable is its USB 2.0 specification. With USB 2.0, you will not get greater than 480Mbps information switch speeds. While no trendy Android telephone has such a dated cable, the 2 primary iPhone 16 and 16 Plus telephones have a USB 2.0 Type-C port with this restricted information pace. Like Anker, this USB-C to USB-C cable is restricted to a single colorway.
Best fashion
Anker has mastered the craft of charging options, whether or not chargers, cables, wi-fi charging pads, or anything. I’ve used the model’s merchandise for years, and none has ever failed me. You know you are getting a high quality product with the Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB-A cable.
Usually, Anker’s merchandise are within the mid-to-upper-tier value bracket. Since the Powerline+ USB-C to USB-A cable is an older mannequin, I’m happy to report that it’s delightfully low-cost now. You get a heavy-duty double-braided wire obtainable in six-foot and three-foot measurements. You can get the Anker Powerline+ in a typical black and gray colour combo, however a second purple colorway is certain to excite you.
Aesthetics apart, this USB 3.0 Type-C to USB-A wire can deal with 5Gbps information switch speeds, and also you get Anker’s lifetime guarantee. You will not get greater than 15W charging speeds, but it surely’s nonetheless a superb cable for the worth. You will not profit from this wire when you’re a Pro or Pro Max iOS consumer, however loads of different units are restricted to fiveGbps or decrease speeds.
FAQ
What is a USB-C cable?
A USB-C cable is actually any cable with a 24-pin USB connector, developed by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), a basis that regulates, develops, and advocates for all issues USB worldwide.
A USB-C cable can ship energy and switch information to appropriate units with a Type-C port. These embrace telephones, tablets, equipment, laptops, displays, and gaming units just like the Oculus Quest 2. Thanks to the EU’s strict coverage, all iPhones—together with the not too long ago launched iPhone 16—could have USB-C ports.
Not all USB-C cables are the identical, as the quantity of energy they will ship and the pace of knowledge switch fluctuate. Since the wattage—aka amps multiplied by volts—differs throughout these cables, not each USB-C wire is appropriate with quick charging.
Also, some Type-C wires have a C connector on each ends. This is what we name a USB-C to USB-C cable. Meanwhile, the opposite type has your typical USB-A connector on one finish and a USB-C connector on the opposite. Generally, C-to-C cables are sooner than USB-C to USB-A cables for charging and information switch.
Next, it is advisable to know that the size of a Type-C wire is one other variable issue. The most doable size of a USB-C cable relies on its specs. After you have understood the completely different specs present in USB-C cables, I’ll clarify that in depth under. Some of them overlap, so let’s go over a number of issues actual fast:
- USB Type-C guidelines are just for bodily connections—information speeds are coated by different guidelines. USB-C is a algorithm that solely exist to make smarter USB plugs, cables, and connectors. Just as a result of a cable says it is Type-C doesn’t suggest it really works with each customary—it simply means it plugs in with a Type-C connector.
- USB Power Delivery is a USB-certified customary designed to enhance charging speeds and adaptability when charging units, as energy will be despatched or obtained by a PD machine. Unfortunately, Power Delivery chargers can go as much as or above 100 watts, which may trigger extreme harm if not used accurately. Still, PD’s requirements are designed to assist stop overheating and overcharging when utilizing a big selection of units with completely different energy wants.
- USB PD 2.0 and three.0 are completely different from USB 2.0 or 3.1, and plenty of cables will embrace each certifications since USB Power Delivery is a part of USB 3.1. Power Delivery may also lengthen past USB to different forms of connectors, however since we’re speaking about USB-C cables right here, let’s not get too far down the rabbit gap.
- If you plug a USB 2.0 cable right into a USB PD 2.0 wall charger, the best cost price will solely be 15W — the cable’s most. 15W is a quick sufficient cost for charging a telephone, but it surely will not be quick sufficient for a lot of tablets, Chromebooks, and different laptops. If you need to purchase a single C-to-C cable that may cost your laptop computer and telephone, purchase your self a USB 3.1 cable with PD charging; 2.0 is okay, 3.0 is best.
- While a traditional C-to-C wire is rated 3A, an Electronically Marked Cable (or e-marked cable) is rated 5A. A 3A USB-C cable has a most wattage of 60W. You want a wire with an e-marker chip for greater speeds, as these Type-C cables can ship as much as 100W speeds.
- USB-IF’s Type C-to-C cable size compliance — to make sure you get the cable’s full options — dictates that USB-C cables with USB 2.0 will be as much as 4 meters lengthy; USB 3.1 wires can stretch as much as one meter; USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 4 Gen 1 cables can measure as much as two meters; USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 4 Gen 2 wires will be so long as one meter; and USB 4 Gen 4 Type-C cables are restricted to 0.8 meters in size. USB-C to USB-A cable lengths are restricted to a most of 4 meters for USB 2.0, and one meter for USB 3.2 Gen 2. It’s not that these wires can’t be longer, however crossing these lengths prevents you from getting their most doable energy and information switch speeds.
- The higher restrict of information switch speeds is 480 Mbps for USB 2.0, 5 Gbps for USB 3.0, and 10 Gbps for USB 3.1.
- Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are solely separate specs that allow a lot greater information switch charges by way of appropriate Thunderbolt ports, normally present in laptops and displays. Unless explicitly talked about, a USB-C cable doesn’t include these options.
Which kind of USB-C cable ought to I select?
You cannot go improper with an Anker USB 4 Gen 2 cable, even when it is not outfitted with the newest and best specs just like the Cable Matters USB4 Cable. Normal folks do not want such a sophisticated wire, which is why the Anker USB 4 Gen 2 cable Cable is greater than enough for all of your wants.
Anker’s USB-IF Certified cable options USB 3.1 Gen 2, so that you get spectacular 10 Gbps information switch speeds and 4K video assist. The 100W Type-C cable prices one of the best Chromebooks at full pace. If you are searching for extra colourful choices, there’s the Anker 643 USB-C to USB-C Cable. However, you may must forgo a lot of the greatest options of a stellar USB-C wire when you’re gunning for fashion alone.
As USB-C has develop into the business customary, having a sturdy cable you need to use for all the pieces is greater than handy; it is an funding. For a extra sturdy wire, seize the Baseus 100W PD USB-C Cable or the 20W USB-C to USB-C cable from UGREEN. Both nylon braided cords are sturdy and positive to final you a few years. Also, they each share that beneficiant six-foot size at such a low value level.
While C-to-A does not supply almost the identical speeds as C-to-C Power Delivery 3.0, it is value maintaining some C-to-A cables round. Most computer systems and chargers we already personal have USB-A ports however won’t have USB-C ports.
If you are out there for one, the Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB-A Cable is a no brainer. You get USB 3.0 that delivers quick 5 Gbps information transfers; it is available in two colours, the worth is de facto low, and the whole wire is strengthened with a double-braided nylon exterior.
How to decide on
Because USB-C Power Delivery permits for greater charging speeds, if you’re utilizing one of the best USB-C charger, you need to belief your units with solely one of the best USB-C cables. There’s nothing extra future-proof than a PD 3.0 wire.
Since it is a part of USB 3.1, you already know you may rise up to 10 Gbps information switch speeds. If you are planning on plugging your cable right into a 60W USB-C charger or above, a 3A cable will not do. Grab one thing that has an e-marker chip so you already know it could possibly deal with as much as 100W of energy passing by way of it safely.
Remember, in case your USB 3.1 cable is a couple of meter lengthy, you will not be capable to use all of its options correctly. Purchase a USB-C cable that measures one meter or three ft lengthy if you wish to faucet into your cable’s full potential.
When they break, charging cables can fry your machine or begin a hearth. Back within the early days, you needed to be further positive your cables had been adequately made. These days, USB-C cables have reached a secure, steady customary (for probably the most half). So whether or not you want a USB-A port on the opposite finish otherwise you’ve gone full USB-C to USB-C, there are nice, secure USB-C cables available on the market with out spending an arm and a leg!
