Most USB Type-C cables look almost identical and even charge your phone. This raises the question of what the difference is between a ₹100 cable and a ₹1500 cable.

USB Type-C cables: cheap vs expensive

When buying a phone, people pay close attention to its camera, processor, and display, but when it comes to the charging cable, they often choose the cheapest option. Most USB Type-C cables look almost identical and charge the phone. This raises the question of how much difference there is between a cheap and an expensive USB cable. Many people remain confused about this and end up buying the cheapest cable without much thought. So let's explore the differences between these two cables and which one is best for you.

What is the difference between these two cables?

USB Type-C is just the name of the connector. Cheap or expensive USB cables may look similar on the outside, but the wires, chips, power capacity, data transfer speeds, and security features used inside them can vary significantly. Not every USB Type-C cable supports the same power. Some cables are only designed for 15W or 18W of power, while others can handle 60W, 100W, and newer USB-C cables can handle up to 240W. So if you have a 100W charger but the cable is only 18W, you won't get the full charging speed.

The wire inside the cable makes the difference.

The actual capacity of a cable also depends on the wiring used within it. Higher quality cables use thicker, better copper wires, which reduce power loss and allow more power to be delivered safely, while cheaper cables may use thinner wires or lower quality materials.

Big difference in data transfer too

Not every USB-C cable delivers the same data speeds. Some cables operate at USB 2.0 speeds, which are up to 480 Mbps. Cables with USB 3.2, USB4, or Thunderbolt support can transfer large files much faster. This difference is easily noticeable when copying a video from your phone to your laptop.