Choosing a USB-C cable for charging

USB-C cables look alike but differ in how much power and data they carry, and a phone only charges at its top rate when the cable can keep up with the charger. Certified cables print two ratings on the packaging, the power they're built for and their data speed. This Phone Balls guide explains both as of October 2026, along with the older connectors you may still need.

Power ratings, 60W and 240W

Every USB-C to USB-C cable is built to carry at least 3 amps, which works out to 60W at USB Power Delivery's 20-volt level. That's enough for most phone charging, including the 60W-capable cable Apple specifies for the iPhone 18 Pro's fastest rate. Cables rated for 5 amps carry a small chip, called an e-marker, that tells the charger they can handle the extra current. According to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which manages the USB standards, those 5A cables topped out at 100W until USB PD revision 3.1 added a 240W level in 2021.

A few phone charging modes need a 5A cable. Samsung's 45W Super Fast Charging runs at more current than a standard cable is rated for, which is why Samsung packs a 5A cable with its 45W charger. A 240W cable works anywhere a 60W cable does for charging, so if one cable has to serve a phone and a laptop, buy the 240W version.

Data speed

Many charging cables carry data at USB 2.0 speed, 480 megabits per second. That's fine for charging and matches what several current phones support anyway, since Apple lists USB 2 speed for the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17e. The iPhone 18 Pro supports USB 3 at up to 10 gigabits per second, and Apple notes that you need a USB 3 cable rated for 10Gb/s to get that speed. That matters if you copy large video files off the phone by cable and not at all if you only charge.

Reading the logo

The USB-IF only lets cables that pass its compliance testing carry its certified logos. Under its cable logo guidelines, every certified USB-C to USB-C cable is marked with its power rating, either 60W or 240W, and faster data cables show the data rate and power together, such as 20Gbps and 60W. Cables sold only as "fast charging" without a wattage don't tell you enough. To confirm a cable's certification, the USB-IF publishes a certified product list you can search.

Other connectors

A cable with a USB-A plug on one end can't carry USB Power Delivery, so it won't reach USB PD fast-charging rates even from a charger that has a USB-A port. For a current phone, buy USB-C on both ends. iPhones before the iPhone 15 use Apple's Lightning connector, and a USB-C to Lightning cable lets those models fast-charge from a USB PD charger.

Length and build

Short cables of around 30 cm are handy for charging from a power bank in a bag, and 2-meter cables reach from a wall outlet to a bed or couch. Braided sheathing and reinforced strain relief at the plugs hold up better to daily bending than thin rubber jackets, and the plugs are where cables tend to fail. A right-angle plug helps if you use the phone while it charges or run the cable to a car mount. The fast charger guide covers the charger end of the connection.