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It is not cheap and not expensive considering it is driving a PCIe connection with 40GB/s speed for 2 meters. It is not for everyone.
I am sure a Chinese eShop would be able to sell this for under 20$ within a few years.
 
Where’s that 3m cable they mentioned when the Mac Pro was launched? As much as it‘ll hurt financially, I want my workspace to finally be organized.
 
Anyone know if these can be daisy chained to drive a monitor (with only TB3 input)? I need about a 12-14’ run and two of these would still be cheaper than Areca’s shortest optical. I could go through a TB3 hub but I’ve read of issues with sleep/wake.
$129?! Is this some sort of co-venture with Monster Cable? No, can't be... the connectors aren't gold-plated.
You think this is a 6 foot length of twisted pair copper you could find at Home Depot?
 
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That doesn't excuse the fact that the USB-C cable they bundle with their laptop chargers (even the 87W one) is only compatible with up to USB2 speeds!
The USB-C spec is such a difficult to understand one. All sorts of combinations exist across the metrics of max power, protocol, max speed (and I think, display spec).
 
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I'm surprised that it can also do "USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer at up to 10Gb/s".
Generally active cables are TB3 (40Gb/s) or USB 2.0 (480Mb/s).
The 3 active TB3 cables that I have are all limited to USB 2.0 when not used as TB3. A 2M Startech Active TB3 cable (40Gb/s, 100W), a 2M Caldigit Active TB3 cable (40Gb/s, 100W), and the 1.5M Active TB3 cable that came with my Asus XG Station Pro.

My passive 1M Belkin TB3 cable also supports USB 3.1 speeds up to 10Gb/s.

From the Caldigit page:
"ACTIVE Thunderbolt 3 cable offers superior signal quality and strength for longer cables. (NOTE: Active cables do not support USB3.0 & USB3.1. Only USB2.0.)"

"USING THIS CABLE WITH A USB-C DEVICE (NON-THUNDERBOLT 3)

If you're directly connecting an ACTIVE Thunderbolt 3 cable to a NON-Thunderbolt 3 device such as a USB-C (USB 3.0 or USB 3.1) hard drive you will see reduced performance (USB 2.0). If you require full backwards compatibility from your Thunderbolt 3 cables please purchase a PASSIVE cable that offers full speed USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 backwards compatibility."


Maybe Apple is referring to when using the cable connected to a dock/monitor? I don't think a passive cable can be 2M in length and deliver the full 40Gb/s of bandwidth.


"USING THIS CABLE WITH A THUNDERBOLT 3 DEVICE

ACTIVE Thunderbolt 3 cables offer full performance when used directly with a Thunderbolt 3 device such as a dock or hard drive. If you’re intending on using this cable with a Thunderbolt 3 dock you will get FULL performance out of the dock including FULL performance from the USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 ports on the dock."
 
Apple are really trying to ram it up our backsides!


€24.99 or US$28 for you guys across the pond.
 
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What Apple isn't specifically telling us is that this is can be used as a USB C cable as well. It works with iPad Pro too.
The belkin is Thunderbolt 3 only.
I didn’t know that was possible. I thought TB3 support would be the apex of cable requirements in this mess of USB-C stuff.
 
What Apple isn't specifically telling us is that this is can be used as a USB C cable as well. It works with iPad Pro too.
The belkin is Thunderbolt 3 only.
That is not true. I own few of both the Belkin AND CableMatters 2m TB3 (active) cables, both cost ~$60 USD. I use them as "bench ties" and both function as TB3 OR USB-C for various needs.

My cables work with the iPad Pro as well, but only when hooked to the computer. I am not sure why but the TB3 cable will not charge my iPad Pro from a power brick. It must be the USB-C PD standard - maybe its not not implemented in TB3 yet. I digress.

The only reason I would pay the Apple Tax on these cables is if the connection is very secure. I have found that the Belkin and CM cables don't "click" as securely into the port as I would like. But since I use them at my workstation/desk its not a huge deal. But with my laptop I actually purchased Apple's .8m cable because I found it could be jiggled a little and not lose connection, an issue I have had with the others.
 
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I did a comparison of the major 2.0m cables on Amazon. Settled on the Mantiz 2.0m cable.

The tests included connection quality, some eGPU benchmarks, and some other factors.

$49 and it did better than the Belkin (imo)

What’s The Best Active 2.0M Thunderbolt 3 Cable? - Ultimate Brand Comparison and Verdict!
 
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I can deal with TB3 related expensive peripheral, but why using “Pro” moniker? 2m braided Thunderbolt 3 cable brand name sounds fine for me, no need pro moniker just for TB3 cable.
 
It’s overpriced, but it’s not as overpriced as I thought. Although you can get the same thing on Amazon for $60-$75.
[automerge]1592913587[/automerge]
If you think this is expensive.. please find me another than can do the same. No the 80 bucks Belkin doesn't do the same.

Can you explain? On the surface it advertises the exact same data transfer speeds.
 
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This is what I hate about Apple, they say they're all about making insanely great products, yet when push comes to shove, they seem to be more about making insanely great profits.
 
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This is what I hate about Apple, they say they're all about making insanely great products, yet when push comes to shove, they seem to be more about making insanely great profits.
You’re presenting a false choice. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. This is a specious argument.

And I’m so weary about all this groaning over Apple prices. If they’re making insane profits, then people have decided that their prices are worth paying. It can’t possibly be more economically simple than that. That is Econ 101; consumers have decided that the value of the products justify the price. If they didn’t, Apple would be broke. I’m dumbfounded as to why this is lost on anyone. Don’t like it? Don’t pay it. Reading these forums, and now with the mods chiming in, you’d think that the planet were brainwashed into spending money that we didn’t actually intend to spend. And industry-leading customer satisfaction numbers must mean that the brainwashing never wears off. Pro-Apple chemtrails, maybe? Something in the water supply? ConAgra doping soy & corn? Tell us.
 
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You’re presenting a false choice. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. This is a specious argument.
LOL, Tim Cook loves people who without batting an eyelash pony up their money 😅 and spend 129 dollars on a cable. Its your money if you want to buy it, great, as for me I will continue to offer my unadulterated opinion and call out Apple if in my opinion they're wrong and they're wrong here

If they’re making insane profits, then people have decided that their prices are worth paying.
Agreed.


must mean that the brainwashing never wears off.
Ok
 
Yeah most of us are too lazy to do any actual research. We're just here to sound off about what we think, we feel, and believe. ;)



Apple's premium products are not even that expensive. Who couldn't afford to buy this cable if they really needed it?
I was being sarcastic. Every thread has those posts where people feel the need to comment that Apple products are a ripoff. My question is since they feel that way are they still buying Apple products and paying prices they feel are a rip off or are they just have no life and hanging out on Apple forums even though they don't buy Apple products?
 
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I was being sarcastic. Every thread has those posts where people feel the need to comment that Apple products are a ripoff. My question is since they feel that way are they still buying Apple products and paying prices they feel are a rip off or are they just have no life and hanging out on Apple forums even though they don't buy Apple products?

It's possible they own some Apple products I suppose.
 
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