THE BUYING DESK / PUBLIC-SOURCE SHORTLIST
A 240W cable can still be a USB 2 data cable. A Thunderbolt-compatible plug is not a promise of a 40Gbps link. Choose the job first, then read power, data and video as three separate requirements.
01 / CHECK THE COMPLETE SETUP
Record both devices, the required length, charging wattage, data protocol and display task. Match the exact cable part number and length; a longer, active or differently rated version may have different capabilities.
Do not substitute a similar product name or a different regional package. The sources linked under each entry support the named model and its stated conditions.
02 / THE COMPARISON
Scroll the table horizontally on a small screen. Limits are manufacturer claims, not measurements. Ask the maker about a condition that is decisive and still unknown.
| Model | Exact length / construction | Power ceiling | Data capability | Documented video condition | Certification evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01Apple 240W charge cableMYQT3AM/A — 2m | 2m; woven charge cable | Up to 240W with compatible power source and device | USB 2 rates; not a 5/10/40Gbps host-data cable | Video not stated in reviewed charge-cable listing; do not select it for a display | Apple product specification; no independent USB-IF/TB certification claim established here |
| 02StarTech 5Gbps USB-C cableUSB315CC1M — 1m | 1m; USB-C to USB-C | Up to 60W / 3A | USB 3.2 Gen 1 / up to 5Gbps | DP Alt Mode; maker lists 4K 60Hz with compatible host/display path | Manufacturer datasheet; Thunderbolt port compatibility is not TB4 cable certification |
| 03Plugable 10Gbps USB-C cableUSBC-C100 — 1m | 1m; electronically marked USB-C cable | Up to 100W / 20V 5A | USB 3.1 Gen 2 / up to 10Gbps | DP Alt Mode / conditional 4K 60Hz; source and display must support the mode | Manufacturer reports USB-IF certification, Test ID 5,214,000,219 |
| 04Plugable Thunderbolt 4 EPR cableTBT4-240W-1M — 1m | 1m; passive cable | Up to 240W / 48V 5A EPR | Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 up to 40Gbps | Maker lists dual 4K 60Hz or single 8K 30Hz with compatible hosts/docks/displays | Manufacturer’s exact-model comparison lists Thunderbolt and USB-IF certification |
03 / THE EXACT MODELS
Exact model: MYQT3AM/A — 2m
Charging across a two-meter desk or bag setup when USB 2 data is sufficient.
You are replacing a high-speed SSD, display or dock host cable. The 240W number describes power capacity, not USB data bandwidth.
Also compare: Plugable USBC-C100 for a documented 10Gbps data and video-capable one-meter path
Exact model: USB315CC1M — 1m
A one-meter 5Gbps peripheral or documented DP Alt Mode display connection when 60W is enough.
Your laptop requires more than 60W, your storage needs 10Gbps, or the dock needs a Thunderbolt/USB4 link. USB315CC1M is not the similarly named 10Gbps cable.
Also compare: USBC-C100 if the requirement rises to 10Gbps or up to 100W
Exact model: USBC-C100 — 1m
A compatible 10Gbps USB-C enclosure or USB-C dock that also needs a documented video path or more than a 60W cable rating.
You need a Thunderbolt/USB4 40Gbps host link or charging above 100W. A USB-IF certification claim does not add a protocol absent from this exact model.
Also compare: TBT4-240W-1M for the documented 40Gbps-class link and higher cable power rating
Exact model: TBT4-240W-1M — 1m
A one-meter supported Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 connection when the full host link is required.
You need more reach or assume this creates another independent screen on a host that cannot drive it. This 40Gbps model is not a Thunderbolt 5 cable.
Also compare: The Apple two-meter cable when the task is charging and USB 2 data only
04 / PUT IT TO WORK
A two-meter 240W charge cable may suit the power route while the dock keeps its original, fully featured host cable. Do not swap those cables just because both ends fit.
Check the enclosure’s device-side socket first. A USB-C-to-C cable cannot directly replace the Micro-B lead on an enclosure with a Micro-B socket.
Use the dock’s required protocol and replacement guidance, then confirm power and supported length. Test the displays and storage together after the replacement, not only whether the laptop charges.
05 / EVIDENCE & SCOPE
This is a four-model capability comparison, not a durability, charging-speed or best-to-worst test. We did not measure resistance, sustained throughput, connector life or temperature. Specifications do not establish that a charger and device will negotiate the cable’s maximum wattage.
Each entry has an original fit explanation, an exclusion and an alternative. We selected the models for distinct documented arrangements rather than copying another publication's order. Unknown fields are not filled by estimates, and manufacturer marketing measurements are not relabeled as independent tests.
Read our editorial method and commercial disclosures. For the complete host path, see the buying guides and the USB-C hub comparison.
SCENARIO WORKSHEET
| Task | Required evidence | What does not establish it |
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Cable current/power rating plus compatible charger and device profile | A high data rate or thick jacket |
| Storage/data | Exact USB/TB protocol and data rate on both endpoints | 240W printed on a cable |
| Display/dock | Explicit video/protocol support, display mode and host limits | USB-C connector shape or a charging result |
| More distance | Exact length and active/passive compatibility | The same brand on a shorter model |
The useful question is whether a cable preserves the required link. A 40Gbps-rated cable connected to a 5Gbps device will not turn that device into 40Gbps storage. A 240W-rated cable attached to a lower-power charger does not create additional charging power.
USB-IF’s cable power-rating guidance separates cable power marking from performance information. Its logo-license page explains that the certified logo is tied to compliance. A logo should be checked against the exact product and cable length; it is not a guarantee of a complete laptop, dock and display combination.
In this comparison, the two Plugable certification fields are manufacturer-reported. We did not independently retest the cables or perform a current certification-database identity audit. The StarTech sheet establishes 5Gbps and 60W; its Thunderbolt compatibility wording is not relabeled as Thunderbolt 4 certification. An absent certification statement is left unconfirmed, not treated as proof that a product failed testing.
Write a replacement request as a complete line: “one-meter USB-C to USB-C, 10Gbps, DP Alt Mode required, up to 100W.” That makes a charge cable, a lower-power data cable and an unsuitable device connector easier to reject. If the original was active, do not assume the same model family’s passive version covers the required distance or protocol.
For a dock, consult the manufacturer’s replacement-cable guidance and the exact dock manual. Keep the supplied host cable as a diagnostic reference. Successful charging proves the power path; it does not prove that video and high-speed data lanes are available.
The cable specification checklist explains how to read a cable claim. This page applies those checks to named cables. Use the charging-profile guide for the whole power route, the video-support guide for host conditions, and the powered-dock comparison for the receiving device.
For a display lead ending in HDMI or DisplayPort rather than USB-C, compare HDMI adapter paths and DisplayPort cable direction and monitor power.