USB Cable Buying Guide

USB cables are must-have items for each of us.

When buying USB cables online or in a store, there are many crucial factors to be taken into consideration. Think about the vital properties such as the purpose, length, thickness, materials of USB cables before buying them.

Purpose

The purpose of using a USB cable determines the type of cable you shall buy.

On one hand, if you intend to use a USB cable for only charging cellphones, your best choice is to look out for a fast charging cable. On the other hand, if you want a USB cable for data transfer, then you’d better find a USB data transfer cable.

The difference between the above-mentioned two parties is the number of wires in them. Basically, a charge-only USB cable has two wires while the data-transfer one has four.

2M Double Angled Connectors Fabric Waving Charging Cable for TYPE-C

Length

The length is another characteristic to be the lookout for before picking up a USB cable.

A long cable will work if your socket is far away from your couch, bed, or workstation. It gives you a very convenient feeling of using your phone.

However, if you expect to charge your cellphone at a very fast speed, you’d better buy a shorter cable. It is due to the fact that long USB cables may take longer to charge the battery than a shorter or medium-sized one.

The Pebble TYPE-C Cable （1m）

Thickness

The thickness of a USB cable can affect the charging speed.

Thick USB cables commonly have thicker wires which allow more current to transit then supply more power to your device. However, slim USB cables generally have higher resistance, which leads to a slower charging performance.

Micro&Type-C 2-in-1 Data Cable

Outside materials

There are plenty of outside materials used in USB cables. The most common ones are PVC, TPE and nylon.

PVC is commonly used in most USB cables. It is non-flammable, weather-resistant and strong.

Most of the original USB cables of cellphones are made of TPE, which is more durable than PVC and has great elasticity and toughness. Most importantly, TPE is quite environmentally friendly and can be recycled.