top | item 38422268

Is there an updated list for verified good USB-C cables?

53 points| wslh | 2 years ago |old.reddit.com

57 comments

order
[+] chronicsonic|2 years ago|reply
Yeah make sure the cable is USB-IF certified, you can find the list here (don’t trust Amazon product descriptions):

https://www.usb.org/products

About USB-IF:

“USB Implementers Forum, Inc. is a non-profit corporation founded by the group of companies that developed the Universal Serial Bus specification. The USB-IF was formed to provide a support organization and forum for the advancement and adoption of Universal Serial Bus technology. The Forum facilitates the development of high-quality compatible USB peripherals (devices), and promotes the benefits of USB and the quality of products that have passed compliance testing.”

[+] archagon|2 years ago|reply
I’ve been recently looking for a <$20 USB-C cable that can connect from my display’s non-TB USB-C port to my laptop. This means a reputable brand, 5Gb/s+ USB3 speeds, DP alt mode support with 4k@120Hz capability, around 100W PD, and 6ft+ length. It’s nearly impossible to filter by these specs, but I managed to find two cables that fit all criteria and confirmed to work in person:

* https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24731

* https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-201303-BLK-1-8m-Compute...

Ultimately, though, I found that my existing 0.8m Apple TB3 cable had higher quality connectors (much firmer click and sturdier hold), so I’d just compromise on the length. I ain’t spending $150+ on Apple’s longer USB4 cable, but it’s probably the best option on all fronts other than price.

[+] voisin|2 years ago|reply
Anyone have any idea which USB-C cables will work for CarPlay? Using the cable that came with my IPhone 15 Pro doesn’t do the job for some reason, but a cheapo $3 cable from the dollar store works around 1/3 of the time.
[+] samcheng|2 years ago|reply
People seemed to hate the Apple Lightning standard, but I never seemed to have this kind of problem before...
[+] devinegan|2 years ago|reply
Anker cables work for my CarPlay head unit. Others I had troubles with.
[+] jeffbee|2 years ago|reply
I don't have any problems with an Anker Powerline+ A-to-C cable, 0.5m.
[+] squarefoot|2 years ago|reply
I've bought some Anker cables in the past which worked as advertised. Also IKEA over here sells cheap but good quality USB cables (beside excellent LED bulbs), but whichever brand you choose, be careful of fakes and relabeled junk; It is quite easy to get scammed when buying online from non well known sellers on Aliexpress, Ebay or Amazon.
[+] carbocation|2 years ago|reply
Interestingly (considering how highly I rate their brand overall) I've bought Anker cables that did not work as advertised and could not carry their claimed current to charge my MacBook Pro. Based on the reviews, this seems to affect a minority of customers, so I seem to have been among the unlucky ones. I've gone back to buying the absurdly expensive Apple cables due to this issue.
[+] okdood64|2 years ago|reply
> be careful of fakes and relabeled junk

How exactly?

[+] BuildTheRobots|2 years ago|reply
Having spent a while searching to no great success, I'd really like to see flexibility/bend radius listed as well; though naming for sizes is enough of a problem so I won't hold my breath.

I'd like to Velcro an Sandisk extreme SSD or two to the back of a 16" MBP but I'm failing to find a USB-C cable that's short enough to not get snagged and flexible to not drag on the port (the one supplied with the SSD is stiff enough to stab someone).

The Anker 643 silicone USB-C cables are fantastically flexible and would be the perfect consistency, but they're only 1.5/3m and only USB2 speeds (100w power though). Can anyone recommend anything or are you doing similar?

[+] wmf|2 years ago|reply
USB 3.0 cables are thicker because they have more wires. Pretty much by definition a thinner 3.0 cable is going to be substandard.
[+] gwnywg|2 years ago|reply
I recently got a usb-a to usb-c cable from Ikea, I was surprised they sell cables... got them 3 months ago so can't tell how durable they are, but they feel solid and I can charge my equipment using fast charging mode.
[+] not_your_vase|2 years ago|reply
I got two of them also, close to two years old. One USB-A to USB-C, silicon coating. It is really nice, still works perfectly. Have a USB-C to USB-C also, braided coating. It got very stiff just after 4 or 5 months. It still works (charges with up to about 45W), but it is more like a (1.5m long) stick, rather than cable.
[+] CoastalCoder|2 years ago|reply
Their cables are great, but assembling them sucks.
[+] wslh|2 years ago|reply
ELI5: what does an excellent cable mean vs. an average vs. a terrible one, in terms of elements, construction, and building process?
[+] izacus|2 years ago|reply
In general, it's "cable that does what it says on the tin" - e.g. if it says "I support charging at 100W and USB3 at 20Gbps", it actually delivers that stabily and preferrably for more than a week of use :)

In general, I've had good experience with braided cables that clearly advertise their capabilities on the box from different vendors, but I mostly don't buy these things on Amazon anymore. Too many false advertisements, so I'm not sure if my recommendations are useful.

I guess known brands like CalDigit, Anker and maybe Cable Matters might work.

[+] twobitshifter|2 years ago|reply
Anecdote: My wife and I both got the 15 pro recently. At the apple store they had to run an update. My wife’s phone started updating minutes before mine with a regular sized cable. They brought over another identical laptop with a much larger chunky cable to update my phone. Mine finished first. I don’t know what cables they use at the apple store but that was a close to controlled conditions as you get with two new phones updating from the same type of laptop with the only difference being the cable.
[+] ironhaven|2 years ago|reply
Maybe I am just lucky but I don’t need a lot from my usb c cables and have not had issues. The minimum requirements for a c-c cable according to the standard is USB 2.0 data and 3A/60W fast charging. Every cable I have bought has preformed at least to that standard so usb c has treated me well.
[+] Physkal|2 years ago|reply
Great topic but aren't we still protesting reddit, or has that just fell off the radar?
[+] acheron|2 years ago|reply
I definitely quit using it. Do people use the official app and watch the ads and drink verification cans and whatever?
[+] kergonath|2 years ago|reply
I guess it depends on who “we” is. Personally, I have seen a lot of comments about how spez sucks (I tend to agree) and everyone should delete their account (some of the subreddits are invaluable and closing all of them would either dissolve a lot of niche communities or just displace them to Facebook, which I would consider far worse than Reddit). But I don’t recall any consensus about not linking to Reddit. I would disagree, in any case.
[+] probably_wrong|2 years ago|reply
I deleted my account and only lurk when it shows up on my search as a reasonable answer for a complicated question.

Fun fact: I only realized this week that my Advent of Code Login was Reddit's OAuth.

[+] dist-epoch|2 years ago|reply
I was mostly a mod protest, not a user protest.

But mods get their power from their subscriber count (like influencers).

So when users started complaining that they don't care about the protest, and more importantly, started looking for alternative related subreddits which were not part of the protest, the mods backed down and stopped the protest, fearing that they are loosing their power (subscriber count).

[+] shp0ngle|2 years ago|reply
Even the subs protesting reddit forgot that
[+] vinniepukh|2 years ago|reply
Surprising that no one has made an Amazon list that one can just open and buy a reliable cable from.
[+] wmf|2 years ago|reply
That would be an invitation for counterfeit cables to squat on those ASINs.
[+] gumballindie|2 years ago|reply
Most upvoted comment recommends AmazonBasics. Ouch.
[+] wmf|2 years ago|reply
Many AmazonBasics products are high quality. If their cables are bad you need to provide evidence.
[+] AndrewDucker|2 years ago|reply
I trust that Amazon own products will function, because they don't want the returns. I don't expect them to have any frills, or look nice, but if I just want the job done then they're reliable.