Best USB-C charging cables for iPhone, iPad and Mac

Macworld

USB-C is the modern connection standard shared by most new devices today. It comes in several different formats but they all have the same reversible connector at the end. By the end of 2023, most of Apple’s devices will use USB-C for charging and data transfers.

Lightning was also reversible—where it doesn’t matter which side of the connector faces up or down as you plug it in—so no big change there, but USB-C is much more than just a symmetrical design.

It can transfer data faster—pushing Lightning’s 0.48Gbps to up to 40Gbps (USB4 and Thunderbolt use the same Type-C connector), and next year to 120Gbps.

Apple’s iPhone 15 has a USB-C port, replacing the old trusty but proprietary Lightning cable that has been a part of iPhones and older iPads since 2012. Apple supplies a USB-C charging cable in the box, but if you want a single cable for fast charging and data transfers—or just a spare charging cable—we’ve rounded up some of our favorites to help you get the best one.

Some are fast, some are super-powerful, a couple are retractable, and some are just fun. Yes… fun!








Foundry

Foundry


Foundry

Note that the cables reviewed here are USB-C to USB-C (or backward-compatible Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt). Old iPhone chargers had the non-reversible rectangular USB-A connector to connect to the charger and a Lightning connector that went into the iPhone.








Foundry

Foundry


Foundry

Using a USB-C charger will enable fast charging even for iPhones with a Lightning port. You can still charge an Apple device with a USB-A charger but not at the fastest speed. From the iPhone 15 onwards it’s USB-C into the charger and USB-C into the iPhone. See our roundup of the best USB-C chargers for iPhone.

We have even more tips that show you the fastest ways to charge an iPhone.

Know your cables

Not all USB-C cables offer the same capabilities, so we explain each factor you need to consider. Fear not, for basic iPhone charging most USB-C cables will be fine. But some are finer than others. Macs use Thunderbolt cables that have the same Type-C connector as USB-C so look the same but have faster data transfer and charging speed options. You can use a Thunderbolt cable to charge USB-C devices, too.

Apple ships a USB-C Charge Cable with the newest iPhones but Mac users need to buy a Thunderbolt cable to connect to a docking station or fast storage device. Having a spare cable or two hanging around the house or office is always advisable—and there are better, cheaper, and more colorful USB-C and Thunderbolt cables than just those sold by Apple.

We’ve focused on USB-C charging cables as most people need them just to attach to a USB-C charger, but cables offer both charging and data transfers, although at different capabilities, depending on your requirements.

Charging: All USB-C cables can carry a minimum of 60W (3A x 20V). Some support 100W (5A x 20V) charging, and some new Thunderbolt 4 cables can charge at up to 240W. 60W is more than you need for a phone and is perfect for the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Go for at least a 100W cable for the 14-inch MacBook Pro. While 100W is fine for a 16-inch MacBook Pro, that model can be charged at up to 140W, although Apple restricts fast-charging for that model to its own $49/£49 USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable, which is included with the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple says that the iPhone 15 can be fast-charged from zero to 50% in 30 minutes using at least a 20W USB-C power adapter, which is the same speed the iPhone 14 got via Lightning. SO, we don’t expect that the new iPhone 15 family will charge any faster than earlier models.

Length: A long cable can be messy when your device is close to the charger, but a short one could leave your iPhone dangling out of reach. You may need different lengths of USB-C cable for each of your charging spaces. When it comes to transferring data, choose a cable that’s as short as you need as the longer the cable, the greater the risk of signal degradation—invest in a Thunderbolt 4 cable for 2m data-strength confidence.

Data transfer speed: iPhones with Lightning ports are limited to a slow USB 2.0 data transfer rate of just 480Mbps (480 megabits per second). Compare that to your Mac, whose Thunderbolt connection can reach 40Gbps—over 8,000% faster! Data transfer speed doesn’t matter if all you are doing is charging a device but it is vital when connecting your Apple device to storage drives, docking stations, or monitors.

While the entry-level iPad is also limited to 480Mbps, the iPad Pro, like a MacBook, supports Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps maximum. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus features USB-C that is limited to 480Mbps like with Lightning, but the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max’s USB-C can sync at 10Gbps—useful for backing up video or photos to a computer.

Note that the USB-C cable Apple supplies with the iPhone 15 family is a “Charge” cable and limited to 480Mbps for syncing. If you use the Pro or Pro Max model with a cable for data transfer, you’ll do better with a 10Gbps or higher bandwidth cable.

Best USB-C cables for iPhone

iPhones have included either a USB-C to Lightning cable (USB-C-to-Lightning) or even older USB-A to Lightning (USB-A-to-USB-C) for years, and elsewhere we have rounded up the best Lightning cables we’ve seen for iPhones older than the iPhone 15. USB-A is the larger, non-reversible connector. USB-C is required for fast charging.

From the iPhone 15 onwards and also with the AirPods Pro 2, you’ll need a cable with USB-C on both ends (USB-C-to-USB-C) to charge an iPhone unless you charge wirelessly—check out the best MagSafe wireless iPhone chargers. Apple supplies a USB-C-to-USB-C cable with all new iPhones, which can be used to change any Apple device that has a USB-C port, including AirPods and Mac accessories, once they are updated.

Apple has released a Lightning–to–USB-C adapter—confusingly named the Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter ($29 at Apple’s U.S. store or £29 at Apple’s UK store) so you can convert an old Lightning cable into a USB-C cable for your new iPhone 15, but, as you might expect from Apple, it’s way more expensive than just buying one of the new and superior USB-C cables we’ve reviewed below.

We’ve rounded up our favorite USB-C cables. You can find cheaper online but we are recommending cables from trusted brands, such as Anker and Cable Matters. When charging your precious devices, you want to be sure that you aren’t putting them at risk of overheating and potentially causing a fire in your home.






1. Apple USB-C Woven Charge Cable (1m)





















Pros


Made by Apple

60W

Robust woven design



Cons


Slow sync speed


















Charging: 60W

Cable length: 3.3ft (1m)

Data transfer speed: 480Mbps

Colors: White

If you want every iPhone accessory you own to be made by Apple, go with Apple’s own USB-C Charge Cable as a spare USB-C iPhone charging cable—at 60W it’s powerful enough to charge even a MacBook Air. Surprisingly, Apple doesn’t include this cable in its iPhone Accessories store but it’s a fine, if expensive, solution.

Unlike Apple’s rather feeble plastic USB-C to Lightning cables, this 3.3ft (1m) charging cable has a robust woven design that means it is far less likely to fray or break with frequent winding and tugging. Apple also sells a 2m USB-C Charge Cable that is now also woven—it’s rated at up to 240W, overkill for an iPhone but top-end charging for any Apple USB-C device.

Its USB 2.0 data-transfer speed is super slow compared to 5Gbps or faster USB-C cables but it’s the same as Lightning. That doesn’t make a difference when charging your iPhone but if you are syncing an iPad or Mac via cable, transfer speeds will be frustrating.

As the iPhone 15 Pro models boast 5Gbps data transfer, this cable’s low bandwidth is a bit of a disappointment if you sue the cable for syncing.

It’s available in only white. If you fancy a color that matches your new iPhone or your soft furnishings, you need to read on for one of the third-party USB-C cables that we recommend. Read on.







2. Anker 310 USB-C to USB-C Cable – Best budget USB-C charging cable for iPhone 15





















Pros


Twin pack

60W

Robust braided design

Length options


















Charging: 60W

Data transfer speed: 480Mbps

Monitor support: No

Cable length: 3ft (0.9m) or 6ft (1.8m)

Colors: Black

Like the Ford Model T, this 60W USB-C charging cable is available only in black. But the Anker 310 is a quality cable, with a tough braided construction that’s super affordable—especially in this twin pack.

Its data-transfer speed is slow (480Mbps) but, for charging an iPhone or small MacBook, it’s just what you need at a price that significantly undercuts Apple. And, as you’ll read later in this feature, it’s perfectly good for charging iPads and mid-sized MacBooks, too.







3. Cable Matters 10Gbps USB-C to USB-C Cable – Best charge and data cable for iPhone 15 Pro/Max





















Pros


100W Power Delivery

4K monitor support

10Gbps data transfer

Available in Black and White










Price When Reviewed:

€17,99





Charging: 100W

Data transfer speed: 10Gbps

Monitor support: 4K

Cable length: 3.3ft (1m)

Colors: Black or White

Apple has increased wired data transfer bandwidth to 10Gbps on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max—20x faster than the USB-C of the plain iPhone 15’s 480Mbps (0.48Gbps).

If you want to take advantage of this significantly increased wired bandwidth, you’ll need a cable. like this one from Cable Matters, that also supports 10Gbps or higher, as the USB-C cable that Apple includes with all the iPhones is really for charging only and rated at 480Mbps.

It can also charge at up to 100W—more than enough for an iPhone but also enough for even the 16-inch MacBook Pro.







4. Anker 333 USB-C Cable (10ft) – Best long USB-C cable for iPhone





















Pros


Long cable

60W

Robust braided design

Color options


















Charging: 60W

Data transfer speed: 480Mbps

Monitor support: No

Cable length: 10ft (3m)

Colors: Black, Red, Silver

Sometimes you just need a very long charging cable. Maybe your wall socket is on the other side of the sofa or desk—or even in another room—and you need your iPhone to hand for calls and messaging. This 10-foot USB-C cable should be long enough for you.

Sometimes you need a more colorful charging cable. Ok, you don’t really need a more colorful charging cable but it’s nice to have the option. If you want even more color variations, but at a shorter cable length, keep reading…

Available in black, red or silver, this USB-C cable can charge at a decent 60W—more than enough for an iPhone or iPad and decent for a mid-sized MacBook.







5. CableCreation Short USB-C to USB-C Cable – Best short USB-C cable for iPhone





















Pros


Short cable

60W

Robust braided design


















Charging: 60W

Data transfer speed: 480Mbps

Monitor support: No

Cable length: 0.8ft, 9.6in (0.24m, 24cm)

Colors: Black

There are times when you don’t want a long cable snaking all over your desk or tabletop. All you need is a short cable to charge your device.

While we have seen shorter than this 9.6-inch USB-C to USB-C cable, some that we’ve tested have been flaky at charging so we prefer to go with a brand that we trust.

It is too short to tangle but long enough to dangle from a wall charger.







6. Cable Matters Retractable USB-C 2.0 Charging Cable – Best retractable USB-C cable





















Pros


Retractable

60W

Tangle free


















Charging: 60W

Cable length: 4 inches (0.1m) or 3.5ft (1m)

Data transfer speed: 480Mbps

Colors: Black

A long trailing cable is just about excusable if hidden behind a desk but is wholly inappropriate in a handbag or stuffed in your pocket.

Most of us find it helpful to keep a tangle-free charging cable in a car, briefcase or backpack. This cable takes up only a few inches of space when fully retracted.

You pull the cable from both ends to extend it to five set lengths: 1ft, 1.5ft, 2.2ft, 3ft and 3.5ft.

Data transfer is slow but it will charge even a mid-sized laptop if connected to a suitable wall charger.

It’s not braided by feels strong and will be protected in its winding shell. Look out for the two-pack for extra value.









Baseus


Baseus


Baseus

The Baseus Free2Pull Mini is an alternative 60W retractable USB-C cable. It’s not a two-pack like the Cable Matters set but is available in four colors: black, blue, purple and white.

Pull the cable from both ends to extend it to five set lengths: 1.1ft, 1.9ft, 2.7ft, 3ft and 3.3ft.







7. Baseus Free2Draw Mini Retractable USB-C Cable 100W – Best retractable 100W USB-C cable





















Pros


Retractable

100W

Tangle free


















Charging: 100W

Cable length: 4 inches (0.1m) or 3.5ft (1m)

Data transfer speed: 480Mbps

Colors: White, Black, Purple, Blue

Another tangle-free retractable USB-C cable is the curiously named Baseus Free2Draw. Like the Cable Matters Retractable USB-C Cable, this is a compact, carry-in-your-pocket cable that, as soon as you hold it, declares itself a must-have. Who doesn’t get annoyed by a drawer full of loose snaking cables?

Pull the cable from both ends to extend it to four set lengths: 1ft, 1.9ft, 2.7ft and 3.3ft—a touch shorter than Cable Matters.

It beats its rival by supporting 100W of charging power—enough for even the largest MacBook, whereas the Cable Matters cable maxes out at 60W. Data speed, as with the Cable Matters alternative, is a slow but usable 480Mbps USB 2.0. It will transfer data but its main function is charging.

It is available in four colors to match your device or just your mood.







8. Wave Bio-Based Charging USB-C to USB-C Cable – Best eco-friendly USB-C cable