The report highlights that i don’t know which ones are for data, which are for charging, or how fast each one is. When I need a cable, I have to pick one and try it out to see—not exactly quick and easy. USB-C has been one of the best innovations for convenience and compatibility, but it also means that my bag of cables and plugs is now a tangled mess of confusion.
In a fresh development, i went in expecting a few to be bad (and therefore could be tossed guilt-free) with the rest being fast and safe. So I finally bit the bullet and bought a USB cable tester to see what all of my USB-C cables are good for.
Industry observers note that but the testing process also helped me discover that my charging habits were inefficient, and that I could be moving data around much faster if I just used the right USB-C cable for the job.
The report highlights that fortunately, that wasn’t the case this time around. Performance was the only negative here. A few years ago, we tested dozens of old USB cables and found that some of them were actually dangerous.
As part of the ongoing story, i opted to use the Treedix USB Cable Tester with a 2.4-inch display and the ability to test USB-C eMarkers, charging speeds, data transfer rates, and a variety of USB types including Type-A, Type-C, Type-B, both Mini and Micro USB, and even Apple’s Lightning connection.
As part of the ongoing story, it’s a tiny chip that’s embedded inside the connector, and it tells you the exact specs of the cable: speed, wattage, manufacturer, etc. The eMarker is both for safety and performance—it prevents high-wattage devices from drawing too much power, and it allows chargers to smartly negotiate power and data. What’s a USB-C eMarker and why is it important?
According to the latest update, once it’s powered on, it gives you several display modes for testing different aspects of cables. Each screen makes it pretty clear what you’re looking at, and though the buttons are a little flimsy, the whole device is bright, functional, and easy to use. Fittingly, you can power this tester via USB-C, but it also comes with a AAA battery included.
In a fresh development, it’s perfect for someone looking to audit one or a bunch of USB cables that have been cluttering up that drawer for far too long.
The report highlights that for control’s sake, I began the audit with a couple of brand-fresh cables direct from Amazon: an Amazon Basics USB-C Cable and a Ugreen USB-C Cable, both promising 8K and 240W support.
Industry observers note that this particular cable was recognized as a passive Thunderbolt 4 cable, with up to 240W of charging capacity and 40Gbps of data transfer over USB4. When I plugged in the Ugreen cable, it lit the thing up like a Christmas tree: most of the pins enabled, official USB-C eMarkers, and proper grounding for the shell.
In a fresh development, the Amazon Basics cable was right there with it, costing about half the price and delivering the same performance and functions, except without the fancy nylon braiding and hook-and-loop cable tie.
As part of the ongoing story, but what about the spaghetti mess of other cables I keep tucked behind the treadmill I don’t use? All well and good.
As part of the ongoing story, the first cord on the chopping block was an unbranded white USB-C cable that I’ve periodically used for plugging Xbox controllers into my PC whenever my wife and I play co-op and I don’t want to put up with the input lag that comes from Bluetooth.
According to the latest update, apparently this no-name white cable wasn’t that cable, instead being some other random cable I had lying around. (That’s the kind of mistake that can easily happen when you have a ton of cords, and a good example of why this tester is handy.) This particular cable has no data transmission capabilities at all—only basic power transmission, according to the Treedix tester. No USB-C eMarker chip, either. Or so I thought!
In a fresh development, this one is definitely going in the bin.
The report highlights that this one does have basic USB 2.0 data transmission and power transmission. Its power delivery is somewhere under 65W, but that’s better than whatever that other cable managed. Keep. Back to the real white USB-C cable I’d meant to test, the one I use for my Xbox controllers.
Industry observers note that made by Raviad, it wasn’t the high-speed data cable I thought it was, offering merely basic USB 2.0 and power transmission. Off to the bin, thanks. I then tested this red cable I had lying around, which I was sure came with my equally red Samsung T7 portable SSD—but turned out to be altogether unrelated.
According to the latest update, easy decision: ditch it. I found this unknown black cable with only basic power transmission and barely any pins enabled.
As part of the ongoing story, it has USB 3.2 support alongside some basic power delivery. I’ll probably find a use for it, so it stays for now. I found another unknown black USB-C-to-USB-A cable (not pictured) with unopened cardboard shroud.
Industry observers note that bin. I don’t even know what this one’s supposed to connect to.
Industry observers note that this one is a nifty 100W retractable cable, which is great for portability and flexibility. Does that impact its performance? Well, the tester shows that it has the USB-C eMarker chip, a true 100W charging capacity, and only USB 2.0 data transmission. That’s good enough for a spare laptop charger. Ah, Ugreen again—finally a brand I recognize.
As part of the ongoing story, this one’s also retractable, but that tri-pronged end is what I love about it—I can hook up almost any device type in my house. I previously wrote about my favorite 3-in-1 USB accessory, a tri-pronged USB-A cable with connections for USB-C, Micro-USB, and Lightning.
As part of the ongoing story, i’ll keep it for its versatility, but now that I know what it’s actually capable of, it has fallen a bit in my expectations. No USB-C eMarker chip in this one, but it manages basic data transmission, sub-65W charging on USB-C, and basic power transmission on Lightning and Micro-USB.
Industry observers note that i always found it slow to charge, and this tester shows me why: only basic USB 2.0 data transmissions and basic power transmission. Next up in my audit was this weird Logitech Micro-USB cable that I’m supposed to use for recharging my G915 TKL Pro keyboard.
In a fresh development, no idea what it’s for or where it came from. Turns out it has USB 3.2 speeds but no power delivery. I know this is supposed to be a test of USB-C cables, but I also found a stray USB Micro-B cable in the mix.
As part of the ongoing story, it has a thick gauge so perhaps it’s over-engineered. I’ll need to do some further testing on that one. One random black USB-C cable I found had a USB 3.1 Gen 1 label on it, but the Treedix suggested it was rated for up to USB4 data speeds and 100W charging.
In a fresh development, i threw away two of those chunky USB-B cables that I hope I’ll never have to connect to a printer ever again, as well as a couple of aging kettle leads and HDMI 1.4 cables. I went on like this for a couple of hours, doggedly plodding through my messy cable pile and finding a fair mix of duff cables and capable ones.
As part of the ongoing story, testing USB cables isn’t the most glamorous way to spend a hot summer afternoon, but while my partner looked on in puzzlement as I exclaimed every time I found a random USB4 or 100W charging cable, my pile of spaghetti mess grew smaller and smaller.
As part of the ongoing story, i now know they all offer high charging speeds, and the ones with data transfer support at least USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds. My bag of cables is no longer a mass of “probably fine” solutions when I need a USB cable.
In a fresh development, i can be my usual hoardy self and keep all the cables just in case, but now and again give them a proper audit to make sure the ones I’m hanging on to are actually useful. The rest can head off to the e-waste pile for recycling. For a few dollars and a few seconds per cable, I’ve bought myself peace of mind, less clutter, and convenience—all worth the few bucks for a tester. That’s the value of testing like this.
The report highlights that he's passionate about everything PC, but also enjoys experimenting with AIs, and covering fresh standing desks that can help avoid his worst posture habits. Jon Martindale is a voracious writer and technology fanboy who loves nothing more than digging into the specs of the most recent graphics cards, processors, and displays.