Apple USB-C cable
USB-C cable in Computers
Recommended for clean signal and charging power, with one critic disliking the 3ft length.
5 people recommended Apple USB-C cable in Hacker News comments and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026.
3 of the 5 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “I stopped trusting USB-C cable labels and started testing them”.
Summary written by Claude from 8 comments.
6 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 5
- mixed feelings
- 0
- warn against or regret it
- 1
The record
Recommended in 3 of 12 months
In 4 different threads.
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 5 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 3 of 12 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
- Recommended in 4 threadsNeeds 5 or more, not met.
- 3 of its 5 recommenders came from one threadNeeds half or less, not met.
The same rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. Mixed feelings count toward neither side. How the badge works
What people say about it
Reasons grouped from a sample of 8 of the 8 opinions about it, picked in proportion to how many people recommend it, have mixed feelings and criticize it. Each mark is one comment in the sample. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Clean signal for software defined radio
“the original Apple Type C cable is GREAT. I use it for software defined radio stuff”
Comment from 2 May 2026 on Hacker News “it is well worth the money of you are into software defined radio”
Comment from 14 Jul 2026 in “I'm a USB-C Maximalist” “the cleanest signal came from an original Apple Type C cable”
Comment from 2 May 2026 on Hacker News Tested to high speed and power ratings
“The most straightforward solution is to buy the highest speed/power rated cables from Apple/Anker”
Comment from 3 May 2026 in “The USB Situation” “knowing they tested them on a 6 figure testing rig”
Comment from 7 Aug 2026 in “I stopped trusting USB-C cable labels and started testing them” Reliable charging for everyday use
“they do charge my most energy hungry devices and everything else”
Comment from 7 Aug 2026 in “I stopped trusting USB-C cable labels and started testing them” “it’s been pretty good so far”
Comment from 7 Aug 2026 in “I stopped trusting USB-C cable labels and started testing them”
What people recommend instead
The same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Mixed | Criticize | Approval | Months | Had for | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CableMatters Thunderbolt 5 cable | 10 | 4 | 2 | 83% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Apple USB-C cableThis page | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83% | 3 | — | — |
What people said
All 8 opinions about it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“it’s been pretty good so far”
“they do charge my most energy hungry devices and everything else”
“knowing they tested them on a 6 figure testing rig”
“IDK why Apple even ships that 3ft e-waste.”
“it is well worth the money of you are into software defined radio”
“The most straightforward solution is to buy the highest speed/power rated cables from Apple/Anker”
“the original Apple Type C cable is GREAT. I use it for software defined radio stuff”
“the cleanest signal came from an original Apple Type C cable”
Counts come from 1,791,911 Hacker News comments labeled by Claude, November 2025 to October 2026, with data through October 31, 2026. Counts updated 2 Nov 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.