Apple Selling New 60W and 240W USB-C Woven Charge Cables

[MrRom92]

I seriously, seriously doubt the packed-in USB-C cable is only capable of transferring data at USB 2 speeds. How would that even work? Maybe it is not capable of sustaining the full 10gbps but there is a long way between that and a mere 480mbps.

 

[Jeaz]

Brutal. Seriously they gimped the USB-C to Usb 2 speeds?? Lmao

They’d had to redesign the A16 chip to allow USB 3. Lightning only ever used USB 2 and that’s what the chip was designed for.

 

[omenatarhuri]

I believe these are as full-spec as they come. Much more reliable than your average Amazon crap.
They would probably be my first choice even for operating non-Apple devices.
Actually quite cheap for their quality, I'm surprised, and the same goes for the new USB-C EarPods.

It does sound like data transfer rate is lower than ideal though.

 

[Ifti]

Why would you need a thunderbolt cable to get usb 3 speeds? Can’t you just use any usb 3 cable as pretty much all usb cables have been for the last 15 years?

Just a way for them to sell more of their overpriced cables.

 

[gpat]

It does sound like data transfer rate is lower than ideal though.

The cable itself is not gimped. It will support the max speed allowed by the attached device.

 

[Nozuka]

It's two decades old. Apple released their first USB 2.0 products 20 years ago, in 2003.

Tim Cook has no shame.

I honestly don't know anyone who uses a cable to transfer data from the iPhone...
I'm sure there are people who do, but it must be a very low percentage. Many of them probably professionals, who will go for the Pro.

 

[emulajavi]

How can the cable not support USB 3 in 2023?!

a complete nonsense

 

[unobtainium]

I honestly don't know anyone who uses a cable to transfer data from the iPhone...
I'm sure there are people who do, but it must be a very low percentage. Many of them probably professionals, who will go for the Pro.

The issue is that the included cable supposedly only supports USB 2 data transfer speeds. I find this hard to believe.

 

[3xBoom]

If there are no technical reasons for the artificial limitation of USB-c performance, this shameful Apple's decision will end up with a law suit. Watch this space...

 

[Chiromac81]

I believe these are as full-spec as they come. Much more reliable than your average Amazon crap.
They would probably be my first choice even for operating non-Apple devices.
Actually quite cheap for their quality, I'm surprised, and the same goes for the new USB-C EarPods.

Actually full spec usb c cable would give usb 3 speeds not usb 2 speeds so not sure what your talking about...

 

[Saturnine]

While Apple certainly could have done better with the transition over to USB-C, the USB standards body need to take an awful lot of responsibility for this mess.

The vast majority of people expect that, if a cable fits, it’s the right cable. I had a box full of USB-C cables yet I had no idea which supported USB 2.0 speeds and which supported USB 3.2 Gen 1 or beyond. I also had no idea of the charge levels they support.

I recently decided to trash the lot and buy a bunch of new cables that would work for any purpose. Something that would support USB 4.0 40Gbps and 240W charging. It turns out that those cables are pretty rare, pretty short and pretty expensive. Add to that the unreliability of purchasing cheap, Chinese cables which may not be what they’re advertised to be and you’ve got a problem.

I ended up purchasing a few certified USB 4.0 240W from Cable Matters.

I know that the USB-IF are currently rebranding. I would love to see the data rate and maximum charge rate printed on every cable. I believe that’s now starting to happen. I also believe retailers like Amazon should do more to highlight certifiable products. E.g. to provide a button linking to a particular product’s certification, ensuring that it’s genuine and meets the standards advertised.

 

[lyleberman]

The thunderbolt 3 cable won’t support usb 3 speeds on the phone? I’d have to imagine it does and that the thunderbolt 4 cable wouldn’t be required.

Me too. I have a few TB3 cables - including the Apple one from my Studio Display.
Am hoping I can just use that one and won't have to pickup the TB4 cable to get faster than USB 2.0 speeds.

 

[LV426]

Tim Apple: enjoy the USB-C port you’ve been asking for, handicapped with decade old Lightning speeds, unless you pay for the iPhone Pro

Buy cheap, you get cheap. Apple do at least provide high spec models at a modest price increase. Feature and price differentiation is a common thing.

 

[LV426]

I'm actually throwing out my Magsafe cable on the MBP16" for this, so I no longer need a multiport charger.

I’m keeping mine. It’s the best way of stopping my cat from ruining my expensive laptop. I was glad when Apple resurrected it, which almost made up for them deciding to ditch it a few years earlier.

 

[maerz001]

The cable itself is not gimped. It will support the max speed allowed by the attached device.

Read the article again. The Cable supports only USB2 speeds

 

[lordhamster]

Dammit! I was really hoping they’d offer 100cm and 200cm options. I guess I’ll have to wait till next year. 😁

 

[LV426]

For everything only one cable 😆

One fat expensive cable capable of high bandwidth video signalling plus power was never on the cards. Cheaper, less capable cables will suffice for the great majority of users.

 

[floral]

I'm going to boldly claim that the 240W brick is for an 18 inch MacBook Ultra (ft M2 Ultra) purely because that's everything I've ever wanted.

More like the MacBook Volcano 😛

 

[gpat]

Read the article again. The Cable supports only USB2 speeds

Oops, you're right.
Still a good fit for my needs.

 

[markfc]

EU - USB C for the win. One cable for everything.
Apple - Hold my beer

 

[technoholic]

Like most people here I'm a bit of a geek and work in cyber security and have been tech aligned for years. But STILL, USB C/Thunderbolt over USB C and Charging over USB C still confuses me. I just want one cable that will support everything, thunderbolt, USB 3, high power charging, backward compatible with USB 2. Is this even possible at all, with any cable? If so, what do I need to buy!

 

[neuropsychguy]

They’d had to redesign the A16 chip to allow USB 3. Lightning only ever used USB 2 and that’s what the chip was designed for.

Apple did have USB 3 capabilities with the Lightning port: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/201...-compatible-lightning-port-into-the-ipad-pro/

 

[citysnaps]

So before the announcement, people were clamoring for faster data speeds on the Pro models, because well, the are used by Pros. Apple did that, and now people complain teh plebeian 15 models get non-Pro needed speeds?

Apple is going to differentiate the two lines as that is the best way to get people to buy the higher priced version.

Some people are going to be shocked and totally gobsmacked when they move out of their parent's home to discover that homes/cars/TVs/audio-systems/computers/phones/cables/clothes/bicycles/etc that offer more features or higher performance, or better quality, cost more money to purchase than those that don't.

And apparently will never understand why.

 

[Wokis]

I seriously, seriously doubt the packed-in USB-C cable is only capable of transferring data at USB 2 speeds. How would that even work? Maybe it is not capable of sustaining the full 10gbps but there is a long way between that and a mere 480mbps.

Most USB-C PD charging cables, not just from Apple, are speced for USB 2.0 and nothing more. There is a different pin-out and different number of copper wires needed for higher data transfer standards which adds on cost, thickness and complexity.

The USB-C charging cables for iPads and Macs are also USB 2.0.

Samsung's awesome USB-C cable is also 2.0

Buy Black Samsung Cable 5A USB C to USB C | Samsung UK

Enjoy fast charging and fast data transmission — at the same time. With up to 100W power delivery (20V/5A), up to 45W Super Fast Charging and USB 2.0 data transfer speeds up to 480 Mb/s, you don†t have to switch cables for optimized performance.

www.samsung.com

 

[neuropsychguy]

Like most people here I'm a bit of a geek and work in cyber security and have been tech aligned for years. But STILL, USB C/Thunderbolt over USB C and Charging over USB C still confuses me. I just want one cable that will support everything, thunderbolt, USB 3, high power charging, backward compatible with USB 2. Is this even possible at all, with any cable? If so, what do I need to buy!

A Thunderbolt 3 or 4 cable should do it all. Not a recommendation of this particular cable, just an option: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Cable-Matters-Thunderbolt-Charging/dp/B08YS59V4K