USB-C technology: Apple's high-power cables and identification tools

Apple has released a 2-meter braided USB-C to USB-C cable capable of supporting up to 240W of power delivery. Designed for high-performance notebooks and tablets, the cable utilizes copper conductors and is compatible with USB Power Delivery profiles to facilitate fast charging for devices such as the MacBook Pro.

While the cable supports high wattage, its data transfer capabilities are limited to USB 2.0 with a maximum rate of 480 Mbit/s, making it suitable for standard synchronization tasks like backups and file transfers.

Due to the varying capabilities of USB-C hardware, specialized applications have emerged to help users identify the specific technical specifications of their cables and chargers. For Windows users, ‘USB Device Tree Viewer’ is available, while Mac users can utilize ‘WhatCable’. These tools analyze data such as E-marker chips, power source information, and USB-PD identity messages to clarify whether a cable supports specific features like high-speed data transfer or advanced power delivery.