Best USB-C Cables Android Central 2020

USB-C cables were once something that you had to be extra-sure of before you bought, back when the USB-C standard was first announced in 2014, but these days USB-C cables have reached a safe, stable standard (for the most part). Whether you need a USB-A port on the other end or you've gone full USB-C to USB-C, there are great, safe USB-C cables to be had out there without spending an arm and a leg!

USB-C to USB-C

Watch your generations

It's hard to go wrong with an Anker cable like the Powerline II, but the carrying case that the 6ft Powerline+ comes with is immensely helpful in keeping your cables tidy in your gear bag. The Powerline+ is still USB 3.1 Gen 1 and it does charge all of my Chromebooks at full speed.

USB 3.1 Gen 1/Gen 2 isn't the end-all be-all of C-to-C cables since, after all, short of outputting 4K video or charging a laptop, it's more than most users really need, so if all you need a USB-C cable for is to charge your phone, you can save a few bucks by opting for a USB 2.0 charging cable like the WiRoTech with its many, many color options.

USB-C to USB-A

While C-to-A doesn't offer nearly the speeds C-to-C Power Delivery 3.0 does, Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 is nothing to sneeze at. More importantly, most computers and chargers we already own have USB-A ports but might not have USB-C ports, so it's worth keeping some C-to-A cables around, especially if you own a phone by OnePlus or Oppo, whose fast-chargers use USB-A ports.

This isn't the wild west anymore

USB-C to USB-A cables are getting safer these days — though noncompliant cables still slip through from time to time — and it's hard to go wrong with any of the cables listed above, though I'm partial to the AUKEY 5-pack with its multiple lengths and spares, as this is a bundle you can buy and probably never have to buy a C-to-A cable again unless you lose cables once a month or your dog gets into them.

If you just need one, it's hard to beat the value of the Monoprice Palette Series, and after all, life's too short for boring tech, so get yourself a colorful cable that's easy to spot in your gear bag.

What you need to know before buying a USB-C cable