I write this from the latest MacBook Pro. I’ve been running this as my primary machine for almost a month. When I’m not grinding out the latest soon-to-be-released I-swear-I-am-on-schedule book in a coffee shop, I sit at my desk and plug the MacBook into a Studio Display. This braided black cable does it all: video, power, and everything else plugged into the Display.
One cable. A Thunderbolt cable.
The stakes are lower in cable selection than in charger selection, but the cables really aren’t the situation. It’s the ports.
The USB Situation
usb-c is a shape, not a speed
Same plug, seven protocols. Your iPhone cable and a Thunderbolt 5 cable share a connector and a 250× speed gap. You can’t tell by looking.
THE LIESame USB-C connector. Seven protocols. 250× speed spread.
THE AGEUSB 2 has been 480 Mb/s since 2000. The cable Apple ships still runs at original-iPod speed.
THE GAPiPad Pro’s box cable is 83× slower than the port it plugs into.
THE TRAPMacBook Neo’s two USB-C ports look identical. One is 20× faster.
THE NAMESUSB-IF has renamed 5 Gb/s four times since 2008.
THE BUYApple Thunderbolt 5 if you have Thunderbolt. Cable Matters 10 Gbps if you don’t.
You haven’t even gotten to the power issue.
I’m in favor of back compatibility but it has a hidden curse: you can plug your expensive external drive into your laptop with a USB 2 USB-C cable and it will work. But glacially. That can be a lifesaver (“at least I found a canoe that works so I can get that file”) or a nightmare (“I bought this expensive drive but my backup never finishes even overnight”).
“Silent success” can be as bad as “silent failure”.
(I read the e markers out of cables and PD out of power supplies and the results are sometimes inconsistent with the packaging. But essentially nobody has the time or equipment to do that)
That’s why you should get a Treedix USB cable tester:
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/06/gadget-review-treedix-usb-cable-tester/
Was walking past an Apple Store today and knowing I needed a 2m cable to throw in my laptop bag, popped in – walked to the back to accessories and the polite employee asks what I’m looking for.
I said “a 2m USB-C to USB-C” what are the options? She picks up the braided 240W one and goes “this one is 240W”.
I go “OK, but does it do data transfer?” She replies “of course”. I said, “OK, great .. what speed?” and she replies “USB”. I go “OK, but .. umm .. which one?”.
She glances at the box to be 100% sure then looks me in the eye and with a cheery smile says .. “C”
This much more ‘The Apple USB situation’.
They were forced into it by the EU, and are complying like a reluctant teenager.
Well, my day is ruined now…. Thanks.
On the other hand, thanks for giving me an excuse to finally throw away bajillion old cables – and buy proper new ones.
We should have color coded cables. Like for resistors. First ring encodes the speed, second the power, third the video and so on.