Why Apple's Thunderbolt Cable is Worth $159

[@pingbookent]

At least you should do a transfer speed test.

[@zarcreations-1]

Apple is the only company on Thunderbolt cables to run 48 wires tightly twisted together into 24, running the opposite data on each line, a differential = self checking, because they're basically RF antennas, (kinda likeXLR) especially at longer lengths like Apple makes, with their perfect welds on each side, not sloppy, like you'll see in CT-Scans of lower quality cables. Each Apple end has 2 power supplies, for two different rails, and a power house processor on their circuit boards. That's very important because it doesn't take much like someone turning on a vacuum cleaner, or a big light, or your cell phone is right next to it. It simply doesn't take much to interfere with the signals. So the processor does a bunch of navigating of all the different signals, chopping it up into bits, putting em down in parallel pipes, putting it back together at the other end. Multiplexing on one end, de-multiplexing on the other end. Much more in the video below. As we enter a new era in digital where external sources normally only affecting analogue signal etc., are a problem again as data transfer speeds increase, the need for perfection is all the more important. Just wait till all signals are wireless including power, that's gonna be a frequency battle of a nightmare! ha ha Check out this video where they go in depth using CT scans comparing Apple's cable to cheaper models. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3WYknSabbSsbpYsi=VaqnM6CGKDdeWuS3

[@robdel99]

@@zarcreations-1 thanks for sharing the video! Enlightening to say the least about what’s required for a TB4 cable to work properly.

[@slob5041]

It’s funny that a lot of the side accessories end up actually being pretty good deals

[@bigfoot38400]

Everything is plug to my computer with 1 tb4 cables (non Apple computer). It's very clean and sick, but I always had issue when gaming, my screen did go black for ~2sec every ~15min, which was really annoying for me. I tried many many tb4 or tb3 cable (my computer only support tb3) same result every time. Than the Apple tb4 goes out and I'm like "Apple usually make solid stuff, sure its expensive, but let's try, worst case scenario I return the cable". Well best decision ever, not a single drop with the 3m cable, very happy of this cable.

[@prateekparbat]

I love it because I have a laptop that has dual thunderbolt 4 ports; so I can just plug it in iMacs at my university library and use them as a external monitor for my windows laptop!! it really helps to minimize the cables and it’s so convenient that you just need to plug and play, both of your power and display gets sorted. I recommend using a 1 m thunderbolt 4 pro cable but 1.8m is good bank for the buck as it’s not twice expensive as 1m considering it’s twice the length. yes cheap cables work until you try to take full advantage of the thunderbolt 4 capabilities, so if you’re going to use it from your laptop to your display; i suggest using the 1m one.

[@kadian666]

As long as the integrated circuit is Intel certified. It will have the exact same capability. Thunderbolt is a standard, so Apple hasn't added some kind of magic dust that makes theirs better. Cable matters makes an active cable for 60 bucks. With just as high build quality, Just as long, and with the exact same capability

[@VibingCat39]

I got the Soopii cable of the same quality for $10.

[@bryangamez8848]

I got the Soopii 240w (with digital wattage gauge reader) thunderbolt 4 cable for $16. I’d love to see a comparison

[@ZhuJo99]

@@bryangamez8848 3 m cable? Because thunderbolt 4 requries active cables for such length and that is why it's so expensive. Does that cable support PCIe tunelling and all the functions of Thunderbolt or is it just a passive USB 4 cable? There is huge difference between those!

[@TommMatthews]

Thanks for the review. Did I hear you say at 7:50 that the Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable is not backwards compatible? For example, with my Thunderbolt 4 ports on my Mac Studio, if I want to connect to an external sound interface that is Thunderbolt 3, would it be ok to use a Thunderbolt 3 cable, or would it better to invest in a Thunderbolt 4 cable? (would the Thunderbolt 4 cable even work in this scenario?). Many thanks for your advice!

[@ItsCaputo]

Hey there! I replayed the clip, and I'm referring to optical Thunderbolt 3 cables in that segment. TL;DR - yes, you can use a Thunderbolt 3 cable, and there should be no impact on performance. To answer your question, you could use a Thunderbolt 4 cable, but there's no benefit from doing so since the physical interface on your audio endpoint doesn't support Thunderbolt 4, meaning that your Mac will optimize for the least common denominator, which is your audio interface. In an ideal scenario, you would get the best performance when all three links in the Thunderbolt chain (Your Mac, the physical cable, and your audio interface) are Thunderbolt 4 capable. That said, I haven't seen Thunderbolt 4 audio interfaces yet. I believe that's because there's no discernable difference between Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 when it comes to latency. In comparison, Thunderbolt is about ~2.5x faster than USB regarding latency. Hope this helps! BTW, what kind of music do you make?

[@zarcreations-1]

and great video bro, it is the best cable!

[@ItsCaputo]

Agreed! I want to pick up the new version

[@BobbyG3.14]

New to the channel and fellow KZbinr, I’ve considered the TB4 from Apple just haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

[@aepeessla]

Can you charge your I phone 15 Pro max faster with this cable ? Bc the cable in the box is USB-C 2.0.

[@ItsCaputo]

Yes this cable is backwards compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro

[@BenJ.G]

No, this will not charge your iPhone faster. USB 2.0 refers to the data transfer speed, not charging.

[@daveinthailand]

10 minutes talking about a wire 😂😂😂😂 like it

[@sashinger5230]

Nice video! Any news on this in the meantime? Any relevant 3rd party TB cables >=1,80m out there? Maybe Maxonar?

[@ItsCaputo]

A few manufacturers have released a 1.8m Thunderbolt 4 cable, including Maxonar, but I haven't had the opportunity to test them against Apple's Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable.

[@pritam_kaushik]

Are apple thunderbolt 3 cables going to be compatible/useful for thunderbolt 4 ports?

[@ItsCaputo]

Apple-branded Thunderbolt cables are certified for Thunderbolt 4 and are also compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices.

[@pritam_kaushik]

@@ItsCaputo thanks for responding but my question is actually the revers of what u answered 😅. If we are having thunderbolt 3 apple cable, will it work with thunderbolt 4 ports, specifically coz the speed is still same as 40gbps!

[@UanTao]

@@pritam_kaushik Data and power transfer speed will work to the limit of your Thunderbolt 3 cable

[@itsROMPERS...]

When has an Apple product EVER not been way overpriced? I find it very difficult to believe you couldn't get a cable just as good as this for half the price. I mean, WHAT'S IN IT to justify the cost? Decent quality wire and some simple electronics? This review would've been way better if he also tested other brands. Just saying "buy Apple" is no help to anyone except Apple.

[@darrenschoensee8005]

there's actually a lot to justify for the cost of this product. as he said, apple is currently the only manufacturer of 3m active Thunderbolt 4 cables, despite the TB4 spec already being released 2 years ago, giving plenty of other manufacturers to give their shot at creating this cable length. There is some extremely advanced technology in these connectors that only Apple has that allows for this cable length for those who need it, and when you factor in its ability to work well with products seemlessly without small issues, as I've witnessed with other third party TB4 2m cables, is really what you're paying for. I picked one of these things up today and it's worth it no doubt and I'm not even an apple fan boy.

[@darrenschoensee8005]

the scenario with simply "buying apple" products has way more to do with the consumer's desire to pay for the tight integration that Apple provides with their products. If that is what you want then you have to bite the bullet. Third party manufacturers are unable to create integration at the hardware/software level that apple is able to themselves, hence the overpriced trend

[@ItsCaputo]

Hey Jeff, thanks for the feedback, and I appreciate the healthy discussion. I essentially laid out several reasons you shouldn't purchase the cable (cost, material quality, length, engineering) and one collective reason you should. High-quality cables (including all Thunderbolt cables with the logo) are certified by an independent testing body for adherence to that spec so I didn't find it a value add to the video. It's kinda like running my own crash test ratings on a car when there are government agencies doing the hard work. Thanks for commenting!

[@Rashimotosan]

@@darrenschoensee8005 so because it's one more meter it's worth this ridiculous price tag? Lol

[@rickyay26]

You clearly didn’t watch the entire video. There’s a reason why these apple cables cost more, they “active” cables. Which means it can drive high bandwidth through long distances all the while keep it consistent.

[@arjunkatneni365]

Awesome insights, thank you. Did you get a chance to test with windows 10/11?

[@ItsCaputo]

Unfortunately my windows machine from work doesn't narrowly support Thunderbolt per the spec, and it's hit or miss with what accessories should work as intended.

[@user-ms8qg2rz5s]

Some thunderbolt 3 cable have usb 2.0 speed in non thunderbolt item

[@ItsCaputo]

Can you clarify?

[@ChadWork1]

Checking today the 3m Thunderbolt 4 cable is 129.00. Not too shabby!

[@ItsCaputo]

Weird, it still shows $159 for me. Buy 2!

[@onlyvik]

No it's not. I have the two different versions of the Apple Thunderbolt cable (short and longer connectors) in 1 and 1.8 meter. My Acasis TB cables do exactly the same for way less money.

[@nick066hu]

Can't wait to pay $559 for a Tunderbolt 5 Cable

[@ItsCaputo]

I think that's the starting price 🤣

[@Williamb612]

guaranteed the cable costs $10 dollars to produce…Tim Cook “thinks different” Question: are you paid by Apple for these pieces?

[@ItsCaputo]

If I was, I would have negotiated a Mac Pro as part of my signing bonus. Needless to say, I don't have one. 😉

[@cyberpaw]

lol i got this. the $20 amazon worked exactly the same. returned the apple cable

[@ItsCaputo]

Link please

[@sskdev5116]

Yeah now we have plenty of thunderbolt4 cables that are backward compatible and are cheaper now

[@funfilm77]

I thought the video was playing at 1.5 speed...😄

[@CDAtheCPA]

5.9 and 9.9 feet? 🤔

[@midnightperfectworld]

1 year later, can buy same spec for $30. Meanwhile this same cable is still as expensive. Any thoughts on this?

[@ItsCaputo]

I did a quick search on Amazon and the cables I found at that price point are either USB4 or TB3 passive cables. Can you share a couple links so I can check em out?

[@nexus99]

try using those cheap cables for eGPU and it'll make sense

[@donross7820]

The OWC TB4 cable was $24 this am! I trust them.

[@ItsCaputo]

That’s a good deal on a smaller cable. It’s too bad that OWC doesn’t offer a 3m cable like the one in the video because it would almost certainly be cheaper.

[@jaegervand2112]

The OWC TB4 cables sits loose and disconnect more easily compared to apple cables.

[@martin_wood]

@@jaegervand2112 interesting. Very important feature for pro work

[@scottscottsdale7868]

Wait. I thought bits were bits. So Hi quality HDMI and audiophile interconnects are not worth it either.

[@ItsCaputo]

The conventional wisdom would agree with your statement; however, as computers' minimization further accelerates, we need to examine the current thinking to see if it passes the litmus test.

[@RufusKSala]

The issue here is high speed digital. At these speeds, these cables are actually very much a question of engineering high performance analog signaling, it’s just that they are ultimately transmitting bits instead of audio waveforms. But the pesky real world physics of copper as a transmission medium dominate.

[@struffstuff]

I wonder how much it costs Apple to produce these cables?

[@kneegrease]

Give me a break! Apple is over charging as usual.

[@ItsCaputo]

Let me know when you find a cheaper 3m active Thunderbolt 4 cable. I’ll wait right here.

[@darrenschoensee8005]

@@ItsCaputo facts

[@Fred_the_Head]

You need to compare prices for similar cables sold by Caldigit, CableMatters, Belkin, Anker, Pluggable, etc.

[@ivanteo1973]

its a bad video that tells you nothing about the performance.

[@unknownpresident]

🤔 apple cables high quality , is like saying , a piece of string and two coffee cups make the best quality phone .