4 ms·

I wish they had compared to off brand thunderbolt cables to see if Apple’s is worth the premium

aalimov_ 3y ago
You could get a 1m Belkin Thunderbolt 4 cable for about $40. Afaik Intel controls/certifies Thunderbolt cables and Apple just has free use of name or something.
- bigstrat2003 3y ago
  So should any Thunderbolt branded cable have similar performance and build quality to the Apple cable, then? Cause I wanted to know the same thing - I came away honestly impressed and thinking maybe I should buy an Apple cable even though I don't own an iPhone. But the real question is whether other vendors have the same quality at a lower price point, because I don't feel the desire to pay the Apple price if they aren't better than the competition.
  - s3p 3y ago
    Having used many TB3/4 cables recently I can say that if it's Thunderbolt certified and from one of the larger industry players you would probably be fine
  - aalimov_ 3y ago
    I cant speak to the build quality of Thunderbolt cables made by manufacturers other than belkin or the one Apple sells - both of which have been great. The belkin cable feels a slightly more rigid. As far as Thunderbolt branded cables you can expect to get the speeds and power delivery that’s advertised, just pick the cable that’s right for you. The one I mentioned earlier is certified for up to 40Gbps and 100W power delivery.
  - mrweasel 3y ago
    I haven't tested the theory yet, but I do need a longer USB-C cable, the recommandation I heard was that even if you just need a USB-C cable, go buy a Thunderbolt cable, because they you'll be sure that it will also work for all USB-C use cases.
- m463 3y ago
  I think steve jobs really liked the idea of a one-cable connection and worked with intel to create it.
  - SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
    Sounds great until you realize some people have "I need to charge my phone 15ft from an outlet" needs, and other people have "I need 40GBPS which needs a dual side populated 9 layer (wtf?) PCB with blind and buried vias, extremely small components" needs. USB-C the idea was great. The execution has been so stupid.
keep_reading 3y ago
The thunderbolt licensing is pretty strict, so I'm not sure anyone is selling knock off thunderbolt cables that underperform the rated specs.
- yonatan8070 3y ago
  Oh you'll be surprised at the kind of cheaping out products on AliExpress can achieve
  - theshrike79 3y ago
    I bought an USB-C to Magsafe 2 (for my 2015 mbp) cable off AliExpress to cut down on having a device-specific charger just for it. It works for exactly one second and it fails. It was SO BAD that AliExpress emailed me that "this product is a counterfeit and you should ask for a refund" :D
cmiller1 3y ago
In my experience having bought cheap, middle of the road, and high end USB-C cables and adaptors, Apple's have been the only ones that have lasted me more than a year.
- artursapek 3y ago
  Caldigit's Thunderbolt cable which comes with their dock has lasted much longer than that.
  - theshrike79 3y ago
    Caldigit is hardly bargain bin Aliexpress/eBay level stuff, their cables should be premium level.
deleted 3y ago
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oaiey 3y ago
Yeah, this article is Apple favoring FUD. There are tons of high quality USB-C cables. You just need to pick the right one.
- theshrike79 3y ago
  Can you give me even 100 grams of brand names for the high quality ones from the tons you know?
- simondotau 3y ago
  It's true that there are many high quality USB-C cables, but they are utterly swamped by an order of magnitude more low quality USB-C cables. A particularly tech savvy person might be able to wade through the muck, but most normal people won't even know to.

You could get a 1m Belkin Thunderbolt 4 cable for about $40. Afaik Intel controls/certifies Thunderbolt cables and Apple just has free use of name or something.

bigstrat2003 3y ago
So should any Thunderbolt branded cable have similar performance and build quality to the Apple cable, then? Cause I wanted to know the same thing - I came away honestly impressed and thinking maybe I should buy an Apple cable even though I don't own an iPhone. But the real question is whether other vendors have the same quality at a lower price point, because I don't feel the desire to pay the Apple price if they aren't better than the competition.
- s3p 3y ago
  Having used many TB3/4 cables recently I can say that if it's Thunderbolt certified and from one of the larger industry players you would probably be fine
- aalimov_ 3y ago
  I cant speak to the build quality of Thunderbolt cables made by manufacturers other than belkin or the one Apple sells - both of which have been great. The belkin cable feels a slightly more rigid. As far as Thunderbolt branded cables you can expect to get the speeds and power delivery that’s advertised, just pick the cable that’s right for you. The one I mentioned earlier is certified for up to 40Gbps and 100W power delivery.
- mrweasel 3y ago
  I haven't tested the theory yet, but I do need a longer USB-C cable, the recommandation I heard was that even if you just need a USB-C cable, go buy a Thunderbolt cable, because they you'll be sure that it will also work for all USB-C use cases.
m463 3y ago
I think steve jobs really liked the idea of a one-cable connection and worked with intel to create it.
- SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
  Sounds great until you realize some people have "I need to charge my phone 15ft from an outlet" needs, and other people have "I need 40GBPS which needs a dual side populated 9 layer (wtf?) PCB with blind and buried vias, extremely small components" needs. USB-C the idea was great. The execution has been so stupid.

keep_reading 3y ago

The thunderbolt licensing is pretty strict, so I'm not sure anyone is selling knock off thunderbolt cables that underperform the rated specs.

yonatan8070 3y ago
Oh you'll be surprised at the kind of cheaping out products on AliExpress can achieve
- theshrike79 3y ago
  I bought an USB-C to Magsafe 2 (for my 2015 mbp) cable off AliExpress to cut down on having a device-specific charger just for it. It works for exactly one second and it fails. It was SO BAD that AliExpress emailed me that "this product is a counterfeit and you should ask for a refund" :D

cmiller1 3y ago

In my experience having bought cheap, middle of the road, and high end USB-C cables and adaptors, Apple's have been the only ones that have lasted me more than a year.

artursapek 3y ago
Caldigit's Thunderbolt cable which comes with their dock has lasted much longer than that.
- theshrike79 3y ago
  Caldigit is hardly bargain bin Aliexpress/eBay level stuff, their cables should be premium level.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

oaiey 3y ago

Yeah, this article is Apple favoring FUD. There are tons of high quality USB-C cables. You just need to pick the right one.

theshrike79 3y ago
Can you give me even 100 grams of brand names for the high quality ones from the tons you know?
simondotau 3y ago
It's true that there are many high quality USB-C cables, but they are utterly swamped by an order of magnitude more low quality USB-C cables. A particularly tech savvy person might be able to wade through the muck, but most normal people won't even know to.