$129 for a glorified USB cable?

[Kinder]

Just came across this.

 

Seems that Apple is adding yet another Thunderbolt cable to it's roster. This one is over 6' long and can support 100w charging as well as DP.

 

Why bother having a standard when companies keep changing the spec? To the average person all these USB-C cables look the same and having so many different specs for the same form factor is just confusing.

 

How is it different than having proprietary cables? I mean at least then you know what you needed.

 

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/apples-new-thunderbolt-3-cable-costs-a-whopping-dollar129/ar-BB17eVSQ?li=BBnb7Kz 

[.Apex.]

To be fair they're not forcing you to buy that cable and a 2 meter USB C cable that delivers 100W is insane and isn't that far off from prices that other companies are selling them.

 

For example:

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Thunderbolt-Cable-40Gbps-Charger/dp/B01N9J47EG

 

Also companies are not changing the spec, those functionalities are all within the USB-C standard, but not every cable supports all those features

[2FA]

2 minutes ago, Syn. said:

To be fair they're not forcing you to buy that cable and a 2 meter USB C cable that delivers 100W is insane and isn't that far off from prices that other companies are selling them.

 

For example:

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Thunderbolt-Cable-40Gbps-Charger/dp/B01N9J47EG

 

Also companies are not changing the spec, those functionalities are all within the USB-C standard, but not every cable supports all those features

Yep, also the Apple cable is active so it boosts the signal sent over it. You'd be hard pressed to find an active cable for cheaper.

[nick name]

Yeah, if you're comparing legit Thunderbolt 3 to USB prices then you're doing it wrong.  Look at all the different Thunderbolt accessories and the ones that actually do everything Thunderbolt does will not be cheap.  

 

I will grant that there is always going to be an Apple tax on Apple products though.  

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, huilun02 said:

????

That's 80cm and not 2 meters

[Guest]

Just now, huilun02 said:

There is a 2m version of the same thing for $35, on the same page...

The 2m version is only 20Gbps and not 40

[2FA]

3 minutes ago, huilun02 said:

Even Apple's cable doesnt guarantee 40Gbps. Be very careful with they say "up to"

Do you have the product spec sheet?

It says up to because it's dependent upon the underlying thing you're transferring whether it actually reaches 40Gbps.

[spartaman64]

12 minutes ago, Medicate said:

The 2m version is only 20Gbps and not 40

https://www.amazon.com/Zikko-Thunderbolt-Transfer-Compatible-Chromebook/dp/B07TT5ZL78/

they even have this on the apple store page LUL

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMBH2ZM/A/belkin-thunderbolt-3-5a-cable-2-m

[TVwazhere]

-Moved to Peripherals-

 

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[.Apex.]

8 minutes ago, huilun02 said:

Even Apple's cable doesnt guarantee 40Gbps. Be very careful with they say "up to"

Do you have the product spec sheet?

It needs to be 40Gbps to drive the XDR Display which is 6K Resolution, the 20Gbps one only does 4K

[Guest]

2 hours ago, spartaman64 said:

https://www.amazon.com/Zikko-Thunderbolt-Transfer-Compatible-Chromebook/dp/B07TT5ZL78/

they even have this on the apple store page LUL

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMBH2ZM/A/belkin-thunderbolt-3-5a-cable-2-m

Yes those are 2m Thunderbolt 3 passive cables. The $129 they're gonna release is an active cable. I don't know if it's worth the extra $60 (probably not) but they're not the same thing.
Looking around on Amazon there seem to be a few cheaper 2m TB 3 active cables, but it's apple and there are enough people that just blindly buy apple no matter the extra markup.

[spartaman64]

54 minutes ago, Medicate said:

Yes those are 2m Thunderbolt 3 passive cables. The $129 they're gonna release is an active cable. I don't know if it's worth the extra $60 (probably not) but they're not the same thing.
Looking around on Amazon there seem to be a few cheaper 2m TB 3 active cables, but it's apple and there are enough people that just blindly buy apple no matter the extra markup.

really from what i read they have to be active to reach 40gbps at lengths more than 1m

[Kinder]

While I understand the 'spec' comments in the end they all look the same rolled up in my drawer. They all fit the same devices. And when they 'don't work' they get tossed and new ones get bought. 

 

To be fair I'm aware of the differences but many people are not. Many people buy a device and to them all cables that look the same and fit the hole are the same. 

 

It just creates confusion in the market place.