We then looked at how fast the cable would charge and transfer data, and whether it supported an alternate mode to run a monitor, using real-world hardware.

A USB-C to Lightning cable has the USB-C connector on one end and the Lightning connector (commonly used with Apple products) on the other end. These wires are most commonly used to connect an iPhone to a wall charger for fast charging. What is a USB-C to USB-C cable used for? The USB-C connector is now becoming widespread, which makes the cables you need to take with you that bit simpler. Please note though, that Apple iPhone and iPad devices still use the company's dedicated Lightning connector even though its laptops are moving to USB-C. In the end though, it’s what’s inside a cable that matters the most and the Apple USB-C cable has top-notch wiring materials that can deliver the most power to your laptop, phone, or tablet. Want to charge your laptop at 100 watts all day? That shouldn’t be a problem for the Apple USB-C Charge Cable.

Moshi Integra USB-C Charge Cable: £19.95, Moshi

It’s also important to note that the USB-C port in your laptop may be much more than a USB port. That’s because of the fact that there are other standards that use the USB-C connector - namely, Thunderbolt 3. While we’re specifically discussing USB cables here, we’ll also go into the maximum length of a Thunderbolt 3 cable. How long can a USB-C cable be? In the end, Apple’s USB-C Charge Cable won us over and is actually our recommended cable for those who want a big name on the box and intend to use it for mostly charging. When we say the box, we mean it, because Apple oddly doesn’t include any branding on the cable itself, which is a mistake because you just might mix it up with a lousy cable. Physically, the cable is a flat design with a rubbery outer sheath. The strain relief where the cable connects to the housing is minimal, as well, which makes us question its durability over time.

Active USB-C cables can come in handy when you need something with faster speeds and 4K videos that are longer than 1m. Currently, you can find an active USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 cable up to 3m in length. There are also active Thunderbolt 3 cables that can hit the full 40Gbps bandwidth at 2 meters – but they’re much more expensive and only work with Thunderbolt 3 computers and peripherals. That said, active USB cables still can’t get longer than about 5 meters, at least if you want the full capabilities that a USB cable can offer. Of course, you may be wondering what actually happens if a cable is too long. The reality is that you may have cables that are too long without ever even realizing it – especially if you really only use your cables for charging. Most USB-C/ Thunderbolt 3 cables can support 60W charging up to 4m with no problem. A cable with an electronic marker can even support charging up to 100W.A USB-C to USB-C cable has the USB-C connector on both ends of the wire. You can use this cable to connect two devices with that connector together. The most common use is to connect a smartphone to a wall charger. Can all USB-C cables do fast charging? Long USB-C cables that come with a carrying wrap like the Anker Powerline+ are ideal for travel, but when you're looking for a long cable to snake from the wall plug to your bed, you'll want the rugged reliability of Uni's Type-C Charging Cable, which also has the benefit of coming in a 15-foot option if you need the absolute longest cable you can without giving up charging speeds.