As technology advances and myriad specifications are applied, deciphering the capabilities of a single cable has become an increasingly daunting task. When purchasing an item, there are certain factors worth considering to ensure a successful transaction.
The widespread adoption of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, which debuted in 1996, has undergone significant changes over the years, driven by evolving needs and advancements in technology. Instead of navigating all of these complexities here, we try to highlight the key concerns.
As USB-C becomes increasingly ubiquitous, the need for compatible cables with varying connectors has become a pressing concern for users seeking to connect their diverse devices. Currently, that could encompass USB-A, Lightning, as well as MicroUSB. Since any cable’s performance is limited by its most ancient link type?
Data transfer speeds are typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). You will determine the pace a cable should maintain by considering the typical:
- USB 2.0 helps 480 Mbps
- USB 3.0 helps 5 Gbps
- USB 3.1 helps 10 Gbps
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 enables fast data transfer rates of up to 5 gigabits per second.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 enables data transfer rates of up to 20 Gbps, doubling the speed of its predecessor?
- USB 3.2 Gen 3 enables lightning-fast data transfer speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second?
- USB 4.0 helps 40 Gbps
While cable manufacturers often set the highest charging rate, your device determines how much power to draw, making it essential to understand its capabilities and pair your cable with the suitable energy adapter that meets those demands. The power consumption of a cable, typically referred to as its charging fee, is usually expressed in watts (W). Typically, producers meticulously review specifications printed in fine print on cables. When there’s no wattage listed, you can easily derive it by multiplying the voltage (V) and current (A), provided these values are readily available.
Primary USB-C cables are generally passive, capable of transmitting a maximum power output of up to 60 watts alone. Cables capable of carrying 100 watts or more, often characterized as vibrant and energetic, must incorporate e-marker chips to accurately identify the cable’s specifications and potential.
The Energy Supply (Power Delivery) framework is the closest we have come to a widely accepted standard. While some manufacturers, such as OnePlus, Oppo, and Xiaomi, have developed their own unique charging standards. Qualcomm’s Quick Charge (QC) technology held the top spot for phones for several years, until Quick Charge 4+ introduced power delivery capabilities. Although Power Delivery (PD) has a variant known as Programmable Power Supply (PPS), this is an integral component of the USB PD 3.0 standard. The Power over Ethernet (PoE) system permits real-time adjustments to optimize effectiveness and reduce costs by allowing phones to operate at up to 45 watts, instead of the standard 18. The latest enhancement to Power Delivery (PD) is the Prolonged Energy Variable (PDEV), which enables USB-C cables to support up to 240 watts, a significant increase from the previous limit of 100 watts.
Although Thunderbolt was initially a proprietary interface jointly developed by Intel and Apple, its future has taken an unexpected turn with the technology becoming open to royalty-free use, albeit still licensed by Intel. With Thunderbolt 3, the conventional adoption of the USB-C connector enables it to dynamically switch speeds up to 40 Gbps, while also capable of delivering 100 watts of power via the Power Delivery standard. Thunderbolt 4 introduces significant upgrades primarily focused on video capabilities, enabling the simultaneous display of two 4K monitors or a single 8K display. This device also supports the latest USB 4 standard and is backwards compatible with older specifications?
Cable certification comes in various forms, catering to diverse needs and industries. When a cable is licensed, it has undergone independent examination and meets specific standards. As a buyer, having peace of mind is ensured when the manufacturer backs its product claims about cable performance. While certification may come at a cost, its absence doesn’t necessarily guarantee inferior quality in cable production; some manufacturers deliberately opt out of this process. The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is a non-profit organization committed to fostering the advancement of USB knowledge. Established by prominent industry players such as Apple, Google, HP, Microsoft, and Intel, the organization unites to standardize specifications and provides certification. When certified by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), a cable undergoes rigorous testing to ensure compliance with established standards and guidelines. Apple has a proprietary Made for iPhone (MFi) certification program for official Lightning cables. Intel certifies Thunderbolt cables. Typically, licensed cables feature the associated brand identifier on the connector itself. Thunderbolt cables bear the distinctive lightning bolt logo.
