The best charging cables you can buy - from lighting to USB-C and Micro-USB cables

 

Fastest charging cables: Which one is best for you?

Satish Singh

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Fast charging is designed so that we can do one very important thing — spend less time charging. Nobody likes to just sit around with a device plugged into the wall, and Qualcomm does its best to help out. The company’s famed Quick Charge is now on version 5, but you need a powerful cable to achieve peak speeds. Here are the fastest charging cables you can buy right now.

See also: How fast charging really works

We’ve split the list by manufacturer, and all of the top names make appearances. Qualcomm isn’t the only player in the game, though, as different companies each have their proprietary fast-charging technologies. Make sure to double-check your needs before you grab a cable.

Fastest charging cables:

1. Anker
2. Belkin
3. AmazonBasics
4. Cable Matters
5. Apple-Only Cables

Editor’s note: We’ll update this list of the fastest charging cables as we test new options.

---

1. Anker

Anker sits at the top as one of the leaders in the charging game. From power banks to cables, Anker does it all and it does the job well.

See also: The best 10,000mAh power banks you can buy

Look no further than the Anker PowerLine III Plus to see just what we mean. It’s a USB-IF-certified USB-C to USB-C cable that comes in a convenient six-foot length. If you’re talking speed, the PowerLine III Plus supports 60W Power Delivery charging. Even better, the cable is fiber-wrapped from one end to the other and can endure 35,000 bends and tugs.

Another high-speed cable offering from Anker is the Intel-certified Thunderbolt 3 cable. It tops out at speeds of 100W and rapid 40Gbps data transfer. Unfortunately, Anker’s Thunderbolt 3 is just 1.6-feet long — significantly shorter than most others on this list. The Thunderbolt 3 cable is also backward compatible with previous generations of USB-C chargers.

PICK UP AN ANKER THUNDERBOLT 3

---

2. Belkin

Belkin is another popular pick if you want the fastest charging cable, with its Thunderbolt 3 cable making the list. You might notice multiple Thunderbolt 3 cables on the list as the technology supports 100W fast charging and 4K display resolutions. While 100W is more than even the fastest phones can handle, it should be a reliable speed for all of the latest USB-C charging laptops. Belkin’s Thunderbolt 3 cable is a more convenient length at 2.6-feet overall.

---

3. AmazonBasics

Does a product really exist if Amazon doesn’t have a more affordable option on the market? The retail giant has jumped into the fastest charging cable game in a big way with a variety of options under the AmazonBasics umbrella. This double-braided USB-C to USB-C cable tops out with maximum data transfer of 10Gbps and charging speeds of up to three amps. You shouldn’t have to worry about breaking the cable either since the ends have been tested to bend 95 degrees up to 2,000 times.

Unlike many cables that only come in black, AmazonBasics’ USB-C to USB-C is available in four unique hues.

Every option on the list so far has featured a USB-C to USB-C connection. AmazonBasics is ready for those who don’t have a USB-C charging brick by offering a USB-A to USB-C double-braided cable. It’s available in one-foot and three-foot lengths and the cable comes in four different colors. AmazonBasics’ USB-A to USB-C charger matches the 10Gbps transfer speed as well as the three amp charging.

---

4. Cable Matters

You may not be as familiar with Cable Matters, but the company’s USB-A to USB-C is one of the most affordable options on the list. The Cable Matters option only supports data transfer up to 5Gbps, but the 5V charging should be plenty to give you the juice you need. Cable Matters also decked the connecting ends in gold, which helps to make the cable stand out in a crowd.

---

5. Apple-only cables

Apple excels at making things complicated, and its charging options are no exception. The cables in this section are specifically designed for Apple’s Lightning connector and many of them come from the manufacturer itself. Unfortunately, that means there’s a bit of Apple Tax to account for with these options as well.

See also: The best Apple MacBook accessories

Apple’s two-meter USB-C to USB-C charging cable is your go-to if you’re charging the latest iPad, and it should work with MacBooks as well. The cable comes in white — after all, it’s an Apple product — and there are no reinforcements for bend protection

If you’re looking to recharge your iPhone or iPod, or any other device with a Lightning port, you’ll want to check out either the USB-A to Lightning option or the USB-C to Lightning. These are the two fastest charging cables for most Apple devices, and both options are available in one-meter and two-meter lengths. The USB-C to Lightning cable is compatible with the company’s 29W, 61W, and 87W adapters and it has become the standard option with all new iPhone 12 family devices.

One final option on the list is Apple’s USB-C to USB-C Thunderbolt 3 cable. It’s the fastest charging cable in the Apple arsenal, and it supports data transfer at up to 40Gbps and charging at 100W. The Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable measures up at 0.8 meters and you can use it to daisy-chain six devices together.