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The Best USB-C Cables and Adapters for 2021 | Reviews by Wirecutter

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If you need a USB-C cable, then our existing options can meet your requirements. But we will introduce new options in early 2021, including longer options for people who want to charge 60 and 100w devices.

This

Longer than our current selection, but still provide the highest speed,

Same as our current selection, the price is half (worse the warranty), and

It is a 60W cable and charger.

your

guide

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If your device has a USB-C port, for example

,

, Or

—You need some cables to charge, transfer data and display video. Unfortunately, as far as USB-C is concerned, even cables with the same appearance may show a big difference-cables that provide impressive fast charging may transfer data at an astonishingly slow speed, and vice versa . We have tested 68 cables and 16 adapters to make sure you can find the right cable for your needs and to help you find the best value for the cable that can accomplish all tasks.

This 6-foot cable is perfect for charging USB-C phones, tablets and laptops with up to 60 W chargers (basically all devices except 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro), but only for USB 2.0 The data transmission speed is slower.

Supports USB 2.0 data transfer speed and supports up to 60 W of power (we confirmed this in our tests), which is required for charging USB-C mobile phones, USB-C tablets (including new USB-C tablets) All of

), and most 13-inch laptops. it is

, And backed by Anker's lifetime warranty. The 6-foot length allows you to charge while sitting on the sofa or bed.

As mentioned above, the data transfer speed of this cable is limited to USB 2.0, and large laptops (such as 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro) cannot be charged at full speed. If you want to use a faster cable, you must give up some length or pay a certain fee.

. However, if all you need is an inexpensive and reliable cable that is long enough for your nightstand, then this fee is enough.

The 6.6-foot cable is rated at 100 W, and its performance is as good as Apple's MacBook Pro charging cable-at half the price.

This

Rated for 100 W charging, so you can charge laptops (such as 16-inch MacBook Pro),

,Full speed ahead. It has a height of 6.6 feet, which is as long as any cable we tested in this category. It has passed USB-IF certification and has a one-year warranty from a company we trust. Its performance is as good as Apple's

with

The MacBook Pro charging cable (not USB-IF certified) is half the price, and is usually a few dollars cheaper than the 60 W Anker charging cable we recommended above.

Like the 60 W Anker cable, this cable only supports USB 2.0 data transfer speeds. It is also thicker, more bulky, and the one-year warranty is not as useful as Anker's lifetime warranty.

If you need a cable that can do all the work, then this is the cable to get. It supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 transfer speed (up to 10 Gbps), and can charge any USB-C laptop or even a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full speed. However, charging a mobile phone is too much (and very short).

can do. Like all cables we consider for this category, it complies with the USB-C specification (cables that violate these specifications may

). As long as you use

, It supports up to 100 watts of charging, so any USB-C device (even a 16-inch MacBook Pro) can be charged at maximum speed. With USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10 Gbps, it can move data at the speeds currently allowed by non-Thunderbolt USB-C ports—fast enough to transfer data.

In about three seconds.

It is sturdy and durable, with convenient Velcro fasteners, and has a lifetime warranty from a company we trust. In addition, it has passed the USB-IF certification, which means that it complies with the

, This is a non-profit company operated by Apple, Intel, Microsoft and other technology giants.

It is more expensive than most USB-C cables, although most cheap cables either cannot transmit data at high speeds, or are not rated for 100 W charging, or have a shorter warranty. It is also only 3 feet long, but since you may be using this type of cable to connect your laptop to a storage drive, docking station or monitor, for example, it cannot be extended from the bedside table to the bedside, we don't think this is a big problem .

Few devices have the features of Thunderbolt 3, but if you need the highest data speed (up to 40 Gbps) and 100 W charging, this is the best cable we have found.

When charging at rated 100 W,

It can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro or any high-power laptop. It has Thunderbolt 3 functionality, so although it looks like any other USB-C to USB-C cable (except for the Thunderbolt logo on both ends), it can still transfer data at 40 Gbps between supported devices.

In our data transmission test, we confirmed that the cable supports the highest speed when connected to our test SSD, which is an average of 2,131 MB/s read speed and 924 MB/s write speed (17.05 and 924 MB/s respectively) 7.39 Gbps).

-Make it as fast as anything else we tested. In addition, its 18-month warranty is the best we have seen in this category. When using it with non-Thunderbolt USB-C devices, it can be used as a USB-C cable that supports 100 W charging and USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer speed.

The Anker USB-C Thunderbolt cable is shorter than we want (almost any cable less than 3 feet long is a thorn for us), but in this case, there are practical reasons for this. Source, for example

According to reports, Thunderbolt 3 cables longer than 1.6 feet do not support the highest data transfer speeds unless you are willing to pay extra for a valid cable. And, since most people will use this device on a desktop computer (for example, connecting a laptop to a portable SSD next to the laptop), we think 1.6 feet is long enough.

This USB-A to USB-C cable transfers data at a snail's speed (USB 2.0), but its length is 6 feet, making it ideal for charging with older chargers and batteries.

If you want to connect a USB-C device (e.g.

Or a

) To the USB-A charging port (whether on a laptop like MacBook Air, or

or

, A

or

. This

It is USB-IF certified, has a lifetime warranty, and feels sturdy. We like that it is a relatively thin cable (even at 6 feet in length) that can be coiled compactly. In our tests, it can reach the full charging potential of 60 W, although this is an example of over-engineering-standard USB-A charging can reach up to 15 watts, even proprietary like QuickCharge powered by USB-A The charging standard will not exceed 20 W either.

Since the Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cable only supports the highest USB 2.0 data transfer speed (480 Mbps), it is not the best choice for moving large amounts of data between devices. However, we were unable to find a faster cable that was USB-IF certified and was 6 feet or longer in length. It is not impossible to make such a cable. According to USB-IF, any length of USB-C cable can be certified as long as it passes all performance tests.

But since it must be a more powerful 5 amp cable, it may be larger than most people want. Anker’s sales representative told us that the company’s engineers found that a 6-foot cable with full USB 3.1 Gen 2 speed would be too thick. Until we connect with a USB-IF-certified cable that supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transmission, is 6 feet or longer, we believe that Belkin (meeting the latter two standards) is your best choice for charging.

This USB-A to USB-C cable can be used both to transfer data and to charge from devices with older USB ports, but it is only 3 feet long.

It is suitable for transferring data from a USB-C mobile phone or storage device (such as a portable SSD) to a computer with a USB-A port, because it supports data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps. It is USB-IF certified, durable, and backed by Amazon's one-year warranty.

Since the cable is only 3 feet long, there is less flexibility for expansion throughout the workstation. However, to get a longer cable, you will have to sacrifice data transfer speed or

. Considering these limitations, AmazonBasics is the best choice for fast data transfer between USB-A and USB-C devices. If you want to use a longer cable for charging, please choose other products in this category,

.

This USB-A to USB-C adapter is the simplest and most powerful Nub-style model we have found.

Provides a simple (cheap) way to connect an existing USB-A cable to the USB-C port. If you bought a laptop without a USB-A port (such as a MacBook Pro), it feels good and you don’t want to immediately replace all the cables and flash drives you own. After testing these miniature adapters, we are confident that Aukey's adapter is the best. It has a 24-month warranty, and its size and shape make it easy to grasp for plugging and unplugging.

This model has not passed the USB-IF certification, but none of the similar products we have tested have passed. Otherwise, its performance will reach what we hope.

This is the best "short cable" USB-A to USB-C adapter we have tested.

If you prefer a short cable instead of a button adapter, please choose

. The advantage of the cable over the small piece is that it can move the connected USB-A cable or flash drive slightly away from the computer, in this case about 6 inches. The extra length and flexibility can simplify the use of certain accessories, especially those with grease plugs. The adapter has passed the USB-IF certification and performed well in our tests. It supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 (another term for USB 3.0) data transmission. It is the cheapest model we have tested.

Among any products we tested, AmazonBasics adapters have the shortest warranty period (one year). But beyond that, we have extensive experience in corporate customer service.

This 3-foot-long cable is compact and inexpensive, and has performed well in every test we conducted.

*At the time of publication, the price was

Seven dollars

Is a functional length (3 feet), usually used for charging

, An older Android phone, a wireless mouse or keyboard, or a pair

From the computer. it is at

The same is true for length, although we did not test it. In our test, it reached the speed of full charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, and it has a well-built slim design. It is also USB-IF certified and backed by Amazon's one-year warranty, which is about half the price of similar cables.

These cute little adapters allow you to charge USB-C devices using traditional Micro-USB cables.

Not much larger than your nails, but allows you to charge USB-C devices with a Micro-USB cable that you may already use. Because they are a bit larger than the other models we tested, it feels better to insert and unplug them. In our tests, these adapters performed second only to the second best adapters (

), and the 24-month warranty is the best of all such adapters we have considered.

We want the adapter to have USB-IF certification, but none of the companies we know bother to certify this accessory.

The cable is MFi certified, the sturdy shell can withstand frequent plugging and unplugging, and it has a compact structure that can be placed in a wallet or pocket.

$15

As sturdy as the shorter version, this MFi-certified cable is long enough to fit on your desk or bedside table.

Compared to the USB-A chargers and cables that come with most Apple devices, the USB-C to Lightning cable allows you to charge your iPhone (8 or 8 Plus or later) and most iPad Pros (not including charging via USB) The latest model) Charging-cat

When paired with a

Although our equipment does not allow us to test the internal functions of any USB-C to Lightning cable, we did conduct a direct comparison of many MFi certified options. we like

Best for charging anytime, anywhere, we prefer

Put it on your desk or bedside table.

Most importantly, the MFi certification status of Anker cables means that they meet Apple's requirements.

To ensure the best performance of the company's devices (from iPhone to Magic Trackpads) in terms of charging and data transfer functions.

Although you can buy unlicensed third-party options, we choose not to consider them. Since such models may not be fully compatible with Apple devices, you may run the risk of incorrect cable installation or overheating and damage the cable, the device, or both. Now that you have obtained a third-party cable licensed by MFi, you have no reason to consider using a third-party cable without a cable.

Both Anker cables have a lifetime warranty and Anker's excellent customer support. They are wrapped in a thick rubber sheath, but they are still flexible and compact enough to fit easily in a pocket or pouch, especially the 3-foot version. In addition, each cable is equipped with a convenient hook-and-loop cable tie to keep the cable coiled and prevent tangling.

Unlike Apple's cables, the plastic housing that connects the metal connector to the Anker PowerLine II cable looks sturdy and durable, and can withstand bending or abrasion even under regular use. Compared to most other cables we have tested, these cables make a satisfactory click when plugged into the USB-C port and have minimal wobble, ensuring a secure connection.

Apple’s official cables are available in 3.3-foot and 6.6-foot versions, so Anker’s 3-foot and 6-foot cables are shorter. But we think they are still long enough in most cases. Although Apple's cables are thinner and smaller than Anker PowerLine II cables, making them lighter, Apple cables are

-They don't have Anker's convenient hook and loop ties.

If you want a fast-charging Lightning cable that can span the entire room (and can withstand the apocalypse), then this is your best choice.

It's as fast as any other cable we've tested, and it's wrapped in the strongest sheath we've ever seen. The outer shell is made of thicker double-braided Kevlar, which seems less likely to wear or hook compared to the more common nylon materials. The plastic shell of the cable is sturdy, with few ridges along the collar, thereby increasing flexibility. It is also nearly 10 feet long and is the longest cable we have tested, allowing you to reach distant outlets more easily. Like Anker PowerLine II cables, Nomad is also MFi certified. Although its coverage does not match Anker's lifetime warranty, Nomad's five-year warranty is longer than most cables we have tested. Finally, the rubber cable ties that Nomad comes with are stronger than ever, and have thick ridges to close them, ensuring that your cables are coiled securely.

Since this cable is longer and stronger than other cables we have tested, it will be very bulky if you try to store it in a pocket or purse. However, if you plan to keep most of it in one place, or have enough room to store it in a school bag, the added volume of Nomad may not be too troublesome.

We do not recommend that you use the three-in-one cable of Micro-USB, USB-C and Lightning for daily use, but it is convenient when traveling.

Essentially, the 3-in-1 cable is a USB-A to Micro-USB cable with Lightning and USB-C adapters connected via a short tether. Although we do not recommend using such a cable every day because it is limited to slow charging and data speed, and the adapter can be troublesome, but we do think it can be convenient for travel, or as a spare device that can be placed in the desk drawer of your device .

Among those we have tried,

Is the clear winner. It has passed MFi certification, received the highest scores in our power consumption and data transmission tests (just like every triple cable we tested, it only supports USB 2.0 data speeds), and it seems to be doing a good job. This is a slim cable that is easy to roll up and fit in a bag, and its adapter is the easiest to insert and pull out, while the other adapters we tried were awkward and difficult to tangles. When we ran this model through Total Phase's Advanced Cable Tester, it was the only model we tested without some continuity, signal integrity, or DC resistance error. And it is backed by Anker's lifetime warranty.

In theory, using a three-in-one cable is a convenient and compact alternative to carrying three separate cables with you. But in practice, we found that they are very troublesome to use-an indecent way to solve different standards and traditional connectors. However, if you often use all three types (micro USB, USB-C, and Lightning) and hate to carry three different cables with you, then this is a good choice.

We hope that its rubber adapter tether is easier to handle and has a stronger structure-we are worried that they may break after repeated use-but none of the models we have tested impressed us in this regard. The cable's slim, compact design and good overall performance make it the best in the worst-case scenario.

It worked fine in our test, but got an F grade on Fakespot the last time I checked, and

Said it stopped working about after about

and

In terms of power consumption and data transfer speed, its performance is similar to the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to USB-C 2.0 cable, its plastic casing feels lighter, and the warranty period is shorter-compared to the service life, the validity period is one year.

It used to be our choice in this category, but unlike the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to USB-C 2.0 cable, it is not USB-IF certified.

In our power consumption test and data transmission test, its performance is roughly the same as that of the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to USB-C 2.0 cable, and it has a fairly good (five-year) warranty. However, we don't care about the ridges between the smooth and frosted parts of the cable casing (they don't feel good), and its price is usually more than double the price of all other cables we tested in this category.

Is a standard cable

This

. It looks good, but we did not test it because its cost is much higher than other competitors.

It is our predecessor choice in this category, but it has not passed the USB-IF certification. In addition, the cable problem USB-C to USB-C charging cable is only about half the price, and the price is just as good.

Launched in October 2018, its length is only half the length of the USB-C to USB-C charging cable, the price is twice that, and it is not USB-IF certified. Although its slim design makes it more compact and more portable than our choice,

Compared to the competition-it looks slim

And the reinforcement of the cuffs is less.

In our power consumption test and data transmission test, its performance is the same as that of USB-C to USB-C charging cables, and we like their luxurious appearance. However, neither of these two Moshi cables have passed the USB-IF certification, and the cost of each cable is much higher than the "cable problem".

It scored full marks in all our tests and was even longer than the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 cable we chose at 3.3 feet. However, we don't like the rough texture of its plastic shell-we found them to be a bit clumsy overall-and its warranty (one year) does not meet Anker's lifetime warranty.

Slightly shorter than the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 cable (2.3 feet to 3 feet), and only has a one-year warranty, while Anker provides a lifetime warranty.

In our test, its performance is similar to the Anker USB-C Thunderbolt cable, and both have a two-year warranty, while the Anker's warranty is 18 months. However, Anker's cables are more widely used, and we believe that the matte finish of its shell makes it look and feel more luxurious than the Belkin model.

In our test, its performance is not worse than the Anker USB-C Thunderbolt cable, but its warranty period is shorter (one year) and the cost is higher. In addition, according to such

, Any Thunderbolt 3 cable longer than 1.6 feet (such as 2.6 feet) cannot provide the highest speed.

Similar to the Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cable, it has a long length (6 feet), is USB-IF certified, has performed well in our power consumption test, and can reach up to USB 2.0 speeds. However, unlike Belkin, its warranty period is very short, one year, and the case is lighter.

In this section, our previous selection

Because it did not pass the USB-IF certification, it was expelled in our latest round of testing. In contrast, AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB Type-A cables and Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cables both have this certification and performed better or better than Anker in our tests.

The length is good, the look and feel are good; in our test, it also achieved a complete USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer speed (10 Gbps). However, in addition to not obtaining the USB-IF certification, the model is still lacking in our tests because the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester reported DC resistance and signal integrity errors.

It is the longest cable we have tested in this category. Unfortunately, it is not USB-IF certified, only about 5 Gbps (USB 3.0 data transfer speed) in our test, and there are DC resistance and signal integrity errors when running through the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester. . In addition, partly due to its impressive length, it is very bulky.

It performed well in our tests, and its braided cable makes it stronger than both the AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable and Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cable. But this is not USB-IF certified, as demonstrated by electrical engineer Lee Johnson

, We think that most people don’t need such a sturdy design.

In our power consumption test,

Excellent performance, and reached the complete USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer speed. But it has no USB-IF certification and is only 3.3 feet long. The Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester reported a signal integrity error in our test.

Similar to the Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cable, but without USB-IF certification, the price is usually twice or three times that.

Construction quality

It’s really good: it’s very thin, it has a strain relief collar that prevents it from breaking over time, and it’s built-in

Keep the cable coiled when not in use. But it is not certified by USB-IF, can achieve the slowest (USB 2.0) data transfer speed, and is only 3.2 feet long-we can not find a cable that meets all three standards, but from AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB -A cable and Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cable both perform well in two of these three.

It performed well in our tests. It is also USB-IF certified to provide higher data transfer speeds with USB 3.1 Gen 2, has a lifetime warranty, and the price is only a fraction of the price of other USB 3.1 Gen 2 cables we tested. However, it does not have a particularly sturdy or streamlined design and can only be purchased on Monoprice's own website, which charges shipping fees. However, if these shortcomings do not bother you, it is a good choice for AmazonBasics USB Type C to USB Type A cables.

It has a good charging capacity in our test, is long (5 feet) in length, and is wrapped in beautiful woven fibers. However, it only has USB 2.0 data transfer speed and is not certified by USB-IF. This is also twice the amount of the AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable and Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cable.

It may be the most similar competitor to the Belkin USB-A to USB-C charging cable we tested: it is 6 feet long, is USB-IF certified, has won good results in our power consumption test, and only reaches USB 2.0 speed. However, although its price is similar to Belkin, it does not look so comfortable and it feels cheaper.

They perform well, but they are too fat and bulky, so it is basically impossible to install the two plugs side by side. with

Compared with other products we tested, it feels cheap.

Among

, with

, None of them have passed the USB-IF certification.

Is one of the top competitors in this category. Like our products, it supports USB 3.0 data transmission and has passed USB-IF certification. But its shell is larger than the AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB 3.1 Gen 1 adapter, and it can be purchased exclusively on Monoprice's website, which has high shipping costs and is not so convenient for most people.

In our test, its performance is as good as the cable from AmazonBasics USB Type-C to Micro-B 2.0, and like the one we chose, it is USB-IF certified. It is 6 feet in length, which is also twice the length of our choice, and has a two-year warranty, which is twice the length of our choice. However, when we run it through the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester, it has a DC resistance error. In addition, it is thicker and bulkier than AmazonBasics, and the price is about twice that.

It matches the Aukey CB-A2 Type C to Micro USB adapter in terms of price and performance, but we think its thinner design makes it harder to use and easier to lose. It also has an 18-month warranty, while Aukey's warranty is 24 months.

The power is only 2.3 watts, which is lower than the 7.4 watts we have seen from other tested models. We also believe that the built-in plastic ring and silver chain (designed to connect the adapter to the key ring) are impractical and sticky.

We tested 22 other USB-C to Lightning cables against our preferred product, but none of them had the same combination of product quality, price, length options, portability, and multi-year warranty that we offered. This group includes cables from EasyAcc, ESR, Griffin, Lecone, monCarbone, Ugreen and Xcentz, as well as the following cables:

although

, This

with

In most cases, our tests are comparable to the 3-foot-long Anker PowerLine II, and we believe that their housing is not as strong or easy to grip as Anker.

A little longer than the 6-foot Anker PowerLine II, which is good. But it is more expensive, and its shell is not as sturdy as the Anker cable.

As sturdy as the 3m (10ft) version. However, at a short length, it is not very useful for reaching remote sockets, and it is too large to be used for continuous charging.

Almost the same as the standard PowerLine II models, except that they have a double braided nylon sheath instead of a rubber sheath. We believe that different sheaths will not increase performance, and the price of these models is a few dollars higher, which is why we did not name them as the first choice. However, if you wish to use fabric sheaths (and don't want to increase the length or volume of Nomad), you should get them.

We fired

No testing is required because it is only available in one length (6 feet) and sheath (black and white nylon) configuration.

Second only to the Anker PowerLine II 3-in-1 cable. Like the Anker model, it is MFi certified, 3 feet long, and has a lifetime warranty. It has a slim, slim design that makes it both compact and easy to carry, which is the key, because we do recommend using the three-in-one cable only as a travel or spare option. We also believe that its adapter is the easiest to plug in and unplug the adapter we have tried. In our all-phase test, its decline was a series of errors (signal integrity and continuity), but our choice did not.

It has passed MFi certification and passed all our data transmission and power consumption tests, such as Anker PowerLine II 3-in-1 cable. It is almost 5 feet long, 2 feet longer than the Anker version, but still quite compact. Its woven fabric sheath and rubber cable holder are very nice. However, the plastic case of this cable is the worst case we have ever tried-plugging and unplugging them is like fighting a strong opponent. In addition, the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester reported a DC resistance error.

Before starting the first round of testing in 2015, we consulted with Nathan K. (

At Google. He is an independent tester who worked with the famous Google engineer Benson Leung. He first discovered potential problems with USB-C accessories that did not meet the USB-C specification.

In the latest round of testing, we used

(A fancy set of equipment, worth $1,500) to check the wiring and signal integrity, DC resistance, and compliance with the USB-C specifications for each cable we tested. We also used it to check other data transfer speed and power consumption measurements again.

Test data transmission function

, We plug one end of each cable

(Not

, But still one of the fastest drives accessible via USB-C connection), plug in the other end

. Then, we ran a free system performance application called

Measure the read and write speed in MB/s (megabytes per second) on a laptop. To test the power consumption, we used a 13-inch laptop,

, And the first generation of Google Pixel, we noticed the maximum power consumption reading in the system report of the ammeter and notebook computer.

Test data transmission capability

, We plug one end of each cable into Samsung T3 and the other end

And run AJA System Test Lite. To test the power consumption, we used a 15-inch laptop, an ammeter and

, And recorded the maximum power consumption reading in the ammeter and the notebook computer system report.

(Desktop solid state drive with Thunderbolt 3 port), plug in a 13-inch MacBook at the other end, and run AJA System Test Lite. To test the power consumption, we used a 13-inch laptop, an ammeter and

, And recorded the maximum power consumption reading in the ammeter and the notebook computer system report. To test

, We use the same method, but use Samsung T3 instead of LaCie Bolt3.

Test data transmission capability

, We plug the USB-C end into the 13-inch laptop, and the USB-A end into

. Then, we plug the adapter into Samsung T3 and run AJA System Test Lite. To test the power consumption, we used an ammeter, pixels and one of our favorite travel sizes

(This

), and write down the maximum power consumption reading on the ammeter.

To test

, We plug the USB-C end into a 13-inch laptop, and insert the USB-A end into the SanDisk Extreme CZ80 16GB USB 3.0 flash drive, and run AJA System Test Lite. To test

We plugged the Micro-USB end into our favorite

(Anker's

) And Anker PowerPort II. Then, we plug the USB-C end into the ammeter and the Pixel, and note the maximum power consumption reading on the ammeter.

According to our

In the past few years, we have sent more than 70 cables to a former NASA engineer, who took them apart to inspect their internal components. We have learned that there is almost no difference in their charging or data transmission functions. So, to test

, We mainly focus on the manufacturing quality of the sheath and the shell, and ensure that the metal connector is tightly attached to the corresponding port.

In each test we conduct, we take three measurements for each cable (with the cable unplugged between the two measurements), and then calculate the average. After collecting data from all competitors, we considered other factors (USB-IF and MFi certification, length, price, availability, brand reputation, warranty and customer support, ease of use, packageability and aesthetics) to do so Make the final decision.

We are rewriting our guide to

, We will add a new USB-C to the Micro-USB cable connector: 3 feet

. We will update this guide with complete test instructions as soon as possible.

We are interested in testing more 10-foot-long USB-C cables because most of our choices are 6-foot-long or shorter. We are also interested in testing active Thunderbolt 3 cables longer than 1.6 feet. If we find any models worth buying, we will update this guide.

We have no plans to test an adapter that connects wired headphones to the USB-C port, but some of our employees like

, Which is relatively cheap.

We were asked about USB-C extension cables (e.g.

), but we don’t have one because the USB-C specification does not allow them to be used. In order for such a cable to work properly, it (and your other cables or connectors) will need to use a thicker power cord, which makes the cable thicker, harder to bend, and expensive. However, if there are any changes, we will pay close attention to this category and update this guide.

We also do not recommend any adapters designed to add MagSafe-like functions to existing USB-C charging cables. Like many MagSafe supporters, we were disappointed when Apple started phasing out this feature a few years ago. However, we believe that since the advent of later adapters (such as Griffin and Leonis), companies such as Griffin and Leonis have not successfully expanded the golden age of MagSafe. Those we have seen are not Elegant, when the cable is disconnected, a little (or not so little) nodules will stick out on the side of the laptop. We are waiting for more reliable and stylish versions of these adapters to surface before proceeding to them test.

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Sarah Witman

Sarah Witman has been a staff writer for Wirecutter since 2017. She has been a science reporter for more than seven years, covering a wide range of topics from particle physics to satellite remote sensing. Since joining Wirecutter, she has researched, tested and written articles about surge protectors, mobile power supplies, laptop desks, mousetraps, etc.

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