OWC has released two new super-longs Active optical USB4 cableAvailable in lengths of approximately 10 feet (3 meters) and 15 feet (4.5 meters) and offers data throughput of up to 40Gbps. According to OWC’s press materials, they’ll set you back $98.99 and $129.99, respectively, though its website currently lists them for slightly less. It’s a bargain, compared to what Apple is charging.
Data throughput aside, OWC says you can expect the 3m option to deliver up to 240W of power, while the 4.5m cable manages 60W. The cables are also covered with braided nylon, which hopefully makes them nice and flexible. And while they’re not Thunderbolt 4 cables, they’ll work just as you’d expect with other Thunderbolt 3- or 4-enabled devices, docks, and hubs.
Intel generally guarantees Thunderbolt 4 performance Up to 2 meters over conventional copper wires. Those cables require special technology inside to keep the throughput going for longer, which is likely part of Apple’s 3-meter 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 cable. The price is $159.
You can find some USB4 cables as long as for OWC Much less than thatBut longer ones don’t offer the same high throughput, which OWC credits to fiber-optics’ electromagnetic interference immunity.
OWC’s cables are a bit of a throwback to Thunderbolt’s roots in the form of Light Peak, which was initially code-developed by Intel and Apple as a fiber optic cable standard. Sony reached the laptop such as companies Decided to go with brassInstead. Optical, data-only Thunderbolt rests on companies like Corning, which Have you covered If you need a $480 164-foot (50 meter) 5K optical display cable in your life.
Cables aside, OWC recently announced the $189.99 Thunderbolt 5 hub, which Went up for pre-order in November and is now available. It has four Thunderbolt 5 ports and a single USB-A port and supports three simultaneous 8K displays at 60Hz.
