If it's a USB-A to USB-C or Micro-B cable, try connecting your smartphone or camera to a computer -- you'll know instantly if it's a cable that can accommodate data transfer.

The main determinate of a USB’s data transfer speed is the USB standard it supports. For example, a cable that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 is capable of data transfer speeds up to a maximum 10Gbps.

Another aspect of USB-C's truly universal characteristics is that it can handle video signals alongside data and power. You ...

Here’s how it works: If you’re using a Chromebook, you’ll now get a pop-up if you plug in a USB-C cable that’s not compatible with monitors, or has a slower data transfer rate than your ...

Best Picks Best USB-C and Thunderbolt charging cables for iPhone, iPad and Mac The best USB-C to USB-C and Thunderbolt cables By Simon Jary Contributor, Macworld JAN 1, 2025 3:37 am PST Image: Foundry ...

And yes, some cables are for charging only, and some will transfer data but only at USB 2.0 speeds (very slow) and some are just not very good or work poorly with certain phones/devices.

Amazon Basics USB-A to USB-C cable ($6.99) Another option is adapting your car’s USB-A port to USB-C. Satechi makes a USB-A to USB-C port adapter for $6.99. Apple solutions ...

By default, a USB-C cable plugged into a USB 3.1 port can transfer 10 gigabytes of data per second. Plugging into a 3.2 port will get you 20 gigabytes per second.

You may have no idea if a cable supports power delivery, or if it does what the wattage limits are. You don’t know if that USB-C cable supports faster data transfer speeds.

If it's a USB-A to USB-C or Micro-B cable, try connecting your smartphone or camera to a computer — you'll know instantly if it's a cable that can accommodate data transfer.