You can use a Thunderbolt 3 cable with a non-Thunderbolt 3 USB-C device, and it should correctly carry power and no more than the maximum either side can handle.But the similarities and differences can still wind up confusing even long-time users of the Mac.Where this tends to manifest itself these days isnt so much with connectors and adapters, but with power.Some cables with USB-C connectors can carry data, video, and networking traffic while also supplying low-wattage power to USB devices if they have a USB Type A connector on the other end.
Theyre capable of charging iPhones and iPads, but not maintaining or recharging an Apple laptop. Others cables with the same connectors can pass up up 29W (watts), 30W, or 100W of powerbut may be limited to USB 2.0 data transfer speedsor might handle anything built into the Thunderbolt 3 specification including 100W of juice. Hardware deviceslike the 2015 to 2018 12-inch MacBook and some non-Apple smartphones, tablets, and laptopsuse USB-C to carry USB 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1, as well as ethernet networking and DisplayPortHDMI video signals (and even DVI and VGA) via adapters. It was built to work only with the USB-C connector style and specification. It can also carry all the kinds of traffic noted above for plain USB-C devices. Before USB-C, even though it was possible to carry laptop levels of power over a USB cable designed for that purpose, manufacturers generally avoided thisprobably to avoid cable confusion. Anker. You wont harm a device by plugging in a cable thats rated for lower wattageunlike an AC cord, which can overheatbecause USB-C negotiates power usage and prevents passing voltages above the level the cable says it can carry. But you will find many different cables with seemingly identical USB-C connectors. Low-wattage USB-C: Some cables with USB-C connectors at one end and a different kind of USB connector (like Type A or Micro Type B ) cant pass a lot of power. Connect Usb-C To Usb-C Plus No MoreThey mostly manage USB 2.0 data (480 Mbps) plus no more than 15W (5 volts at 3 amps), which is enough to charge smartphones and tablets. Or not (See figure above.) High-wattage USB-C: Higher-wattage USB-C cables come in many varieties. Even Apple has three: 29W (for the original 12-inch MacBook), 30W (2018 MacBook Air), and 100W (all other USB-C models); the 29W and 30W cables are effectively interchangeable. But if you use a 61W laptop with a 30W cable, it wont charge quickly or may slowly lose charge while you use it. See Apples power-cable identification guide for details about figuring out which cable is which. Apple. At Apple and other manufacturers sites, Ive seen cables listed that are rated for a lower maximum. Check the details on anything you order to be sure theyre promising Some non-Apple cables may sport the USB SuperSpeed logo on their plug ends, but with the logo reversed out of a stylized battery to indicate they carry more power than an old-style USB cables. You will have to consult the manufacturers website and Google if you didnt retain packaging material. And some of these cables will only carry USB 2.0 data ratesbut a few are designed to handle USB 3.0 and 3.1 speeds, like the Anker PowerLine II. Belkin. These cables will always have the Thunderbolt lightning-bolt logo on each USB-C tipped cable end.
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