Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Fastest charging cables: Which one is best for you?
Fast charging is designed to do one vital thing — spend less time charging. Nobody wants to wait around tethered to the wall, and Qualcomm does its best to help out. The company’s famed Quick Charge is now on version 5, but you need a powerful cable to achieve peak speeds. Here are the fastest charging cables you can buy right now.
It may seem like all cables are the same, but some offer more features and speeds than others. Qualcomm isn’t the only player in the game, though, as different companies have their proprietary fast-charging technologies. Make sure to double-check your needs before you grab a cable. We’ve split the list by manufacturer, and all top names make appearances.
The fastest charging cables:
Editor’s note: We’ll update this list of the fastest charging cables as we test new options.
Anker
Anker sits at the top as one of the leaders in the charging game. The company does everything from power banks to cables, and it does the job well.
Look no further than the Anker 765 cable to see just what we mean. It’s a USB-C to USB-C cable that comes in a convenient six-foot length. If you’re talking speed, the Anker 765 supports 140W Power Delivery 3.1 charging. Even better, the cable is nylon-wrapped from one end to the other and can endure 35,000 bends and tugs.
Belkin
Belkin is another popular pick if you want one of the fastest charging cables, with its BoostCharge cable making the list. It supports up to 240W charging speeds, meaning it can charge almost anything, including laptops and tablets. It’s also nicely built and tested for over 30,000 bends. You can pick between 3.3ft or 6.6ft lengths.
AmazonBasics
Does a product exist if Amazon doesn’t have a more affordable option on the market? The retail giant has jumped into the fastest charging cable game in a big way, with a very enticing option available. The Amazon Basics Aluminum Braided 100W USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 Cable tops out with maximum charging speeds of up to 100W, as the name entails.
Not only is it fast for charging, but it is also very fast at transferring data. The cable supports 5Gbps speeds. You shouldn’t have to worry about breaking the cable since the ends have been tested to bend 95 degrees up to 2,000 times. It also happens to look great.
Cable Matters
You may not be as familiar with Cable Matters, but the company’s cables are pretty outstanding, and usually have very competitive prices. Today, we have two cables for you, and which one you get will depend on what you value in a cable.
The Cable Matters 40Gbps Active USB4 Cable is better if you want the fastest transfer speeds possible. It can transfer data at up to a whopping 40Gbps. And it can also charge at 100W, which isn’t half bad, and may be more than fast enough for many of you.
Apple-only cables
Apple excels at complicating things, and its charging options are no exception. The cables in this section are specifically designed for Apple’s connectors, including Lightning and USB-C options. Many of them come from the manufacturer itself. Unfortunately, that means there’s a bit of Apple Tax to account for with these options.
Apple’s USB-C to USB-C Thunderbolt 3 charging cable is your go-to if you’re charging one of the latest iPads or MacBooks. The cable comes in white — after all, it’s an Apple product — and there are no reinforcements for bend protection. They are pretty fast, though, supporting 100W charging and 40Gbps speeds.
If you’re looking to recharge your iPhone or any other device with a Lightning port, you’ll want to check out either the USB-A to Lightning option or the USB-C to Lightning. These are the two fastest charging cables for most Apple devices, and both options are available in one-meter and two-meter lengths. The USB-C to Lightning cable is compatible with the company’s 29W, 61W, and 87W adapters, and it has become the standard option with all new iPhone devices.
FAQs
The latest version of the standard is Thunderbolt 4. It can handle speeds of up to 40Gbps and up to 100W charging speeds.
You may have noticed cables with more wattage tend to be shorter. This is because charging capabilities decrease as cables get longer, due to the loss in power current experiences as it travels through a cable.
Cables are only part of the fast-charging equation. The phone needs to support fast charging speeds, and so does the charging brick. If all aligns, common phones with super-fast charging speeds usually take 60-80W. Some can go up to 100W. Furthermore, some newer handsets are starting to support 240W.
How fast an iPhone charges depends on the model, the cable, and the charger. Max speeds are 27W, though.
Having one of the fastest charging cables isn’t enough. Aside from your device having to support higher speeds, it would be best to pair your cable with a charger that can handle the fastest charging speeds around. Check out some of our favorite chargers to see what you can get. You should also take a look at our list of the best charging accessories.