Select a USB-C Cable that Don’t Destroy Your Devices

A Few months ago, Amazon prohibited USB-C cables that did not reached the Standards set out by the USB Implementers Forum (USB –IF), such cables are flat to failure for good reason, and can spoil connected devices, also catch fire.

USB-C is the advanced version of USB OTG in USB design which finally offers a one-size-fits-all plug- erases the confusion between Mini-USB and Micro-USB. Theoretically, it is great because it standardizes all types of device ports.

Certainly, all should know about USB-C to go forward.

However this complete disaster with faulty cables may hold back, or even acknowledge, all of this growth. Below we have explained how to keep your devices safe without wasting your money.

How hazardous are Bad USB-C Cables?

A big story has started travelling, in November 2015, about how one of Google’s engineers, Benson Leung, had reconsidered many of USB-C cables obtainable on Amazon and found them severely unavailable- even the one provided by smartphone manufacturer, Oneplus.

Still you can read his Google Plus post, in which he informs that any charger, USB hub or USB port in conjunction with it can be damaged due to the cause of using Oneplus’s Type-C to Type-A.

Another story, in February 2016, had gone big-now Leung’s experiment of a Type-C to Type-A cable has fried his chromebook Pixel from Surjtech. USB-C ports are not only damaged, but also the pixel suffered from a burned-out embedded controller, portrait the laptop not working.

His autopsy showed that the cable was fully miswired by the manufacturer using all types of wrong components. Oops.

So why don’t these issues present in other versions of USB? Mainly due to USB-C allows for more power that is one reason why USB-C is so probable in the first place. If anything went wrong there will be more involved more energy and that means more possible for damage.

Other big worry on people’s minds is whether these imperfect USB-C cables can cause even more serious damage or not, Such as electrical fires or elevtrocution.

Luckily, you no need to have really worried about that, as a minimum to a degree. It may lead to short circuit when any type of power-charging cable is hollowed, torn or else damaged. Short-circuit can cause injuries and fires. But it is more common issue, not one exact to USB-C.

If you heard any time about the dangers of USB-C cables and thought it was just full amplification, we advise you to take care when moving forward. A damaged cable may costs more number of dollars which damages your devices.

3 Things to Know When Buying USB-C

The main key point we want to highlight here is no need to afraid about USB-C itself. Actually the main problem is in the manufacturing of supposed cables, that means you should only afraid of poorly made USB-C cables. The USB-C is completely safe when standard itself.

Below are we suggested some things to reduce your risk of wasting money on a imperfect or unsafe USB-C cable.

1. Understand USB-C Certification

Being a consumer you no need to understand the basic details of USB-C specifications. But it is not just like looking the given cable and decides whether it was manufactured correctly or not- particularly when ordering in online.

That’s why you should know all types of certifications which are obtainable and also know how to find when a USB-C is complaint with supposed specifications.

The USB-IF has more number of logos that identifies different levels of standards compliance. To know more about what is mean by this Check out the official USB-IF compliance Program details. A cable with any of these logos is safe when compared to without one.

Note that a certified cable doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be perfect. There are other factors to consider — such as quality of materials and how rigorously they’ve been tested — but USB-IF’s certification is a good sign.

Remember that a certified cable will not be surely perfect. There are some other factors to consider- like quality of materials and how strictly they were selected- but USB-IF’s certification is a good sign.

2. Avoid Bargain-Level USB-C Cables

As seen, the USB-C standards are quite difficult, particularly when compared to the last versions of USB. This difficulty leads to a huge confusion among cable manufacturers, and most of them are not taking the period to strictly understand the actual requirement among them.

And as you may guess, most of the problematic USB-C cables raise from bargain-basement, no-name, Knock-off manufacturers. These low rent players that work on a race-to-the-bottom business model which can’t give proper testing and quality assurance.

This is a place where it is paid to stay little more for peace of mind. After all a low cost untested USB-C cable costs about $5 instead a tested and trusted USB-C cable costs between $8 to $12. Is it risk being worthy between $6 to $10?

3. Stick to Tested and Trusted Brands

You can always consult USB-IF’s list of certified USB-C cables, for doubts, even if it’s not any easy list to leaf through while looking for a quick and instant information.

For this, we mostly use the USB-C complaint Cables reference, which is a difficulty in USB-C cables that Benson Leung himself checked and found to be yielding with heights. The site is easy to navigate when divided into five groups.

You can refer to Benson Leung’s history of in-depth USB-C cable reviews whenever a relatively unknown USB-C cable exists. What he has made it on his mission to test and review each single one that pops up on Amazon and you can know his views by reading his profile page on Amazon.

Judging from his suggestions, below are some good track records which produce high quality cables:

Choetech
Anker
TechMatte
Nekteck
Tronsmart

And, at last, below are some of Leung’s top picks:

Be Careful and You’ll Be All Right

This is not at all first time that USB has raised issues for daily folks. For instance, USB malware is anyway a problem for those who are irresponsible. But it don’t mean you should mean that halt using USB drives, is it? Similarly, just because there are manufacturers who are fault prone this doesn’t mean that we should leave the baby out along with bathwater. USB –C is already altering the landscape of gadget, and it is better if you ask me.

Until you buy from highly regarded sources and store your USB –C cables in a safe and secure way, you need not be afraid of anything.