But only devices built to be compatible with Thunderbolt 3 can get those speeds, and even then only if you have a Thunderbolt 3 compatible cable. Thunderbolt 3, for example, is a collaboration between Intel and Apple that offers transfer speeds of 40 gbps-four times faster than the USB 3.1 standard-and support for two 4K displays connected to a single port. The complexity here is introduced by alternative modes, which use the USB-C form factor to offer additional features. If you need to use them for anything else, like connecting devices or transferring data, they will either not work, or will be extremely slow. And most of the cables on the market support USB 2.0 rather than USB 3.0 or 3.1.Įditor’s Note: we can’t overstate that last bit enough-most of the USB-C cables on the market are USB 2.0 rather than 3.1 because they are only designed for charging. That’s not quite how USB-C is: adapters and cables may or may not work, depending on what features your device offers.

With USB-A, things were relatively simple: basically anything you could plug in would work. RELATED: Watch Out: How to Buy a USB Type-C Cable That Won't Damage Your Devices Not All USB-C Ports Are The Same Assuming a cable is fine because it fits is not good enough anymore-check out resources like to ensure your cable won’t cause any problems. But it’s important to keep in mind that not all USB-C cables are created equally, and it’s up to you as a consumer to make sure what you’re buying is compatible with your device. My colleague Chris outlined how to buy a USB-C cable that won’t damage your devices, so I won’t re-hash that too much here. The trouble is, it can be really hard figuring out which cables are good and which are not, unless you’re buying from a reliable vendor that provides good technical specifications. Now, to be fair, properly-made cables can have resistors inline to prevent this from happening. So, for example, if you plug a USB-A device (like a cell phone) into a USB-C port using one of these cables, the phone may draw too much power, frying your phone, USB-C port, or even computer. (USB-A, if you didn’t know, is the traditional USB plug we’ve all been using for years.) But, USB-C devices (and cables) support faster charging than USB-A. The problem is specific to cables with the older USB-A connector on one end and the new USB-C connector on another.

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