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Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Cables of Different Thickness

Is there a difference in the specs (specifically power delivery) of Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cables of different thickness? Or is the varying thickness simply a thicker jacket?


Context: I'm having trouble keeping my MacBook Pro battery charged with power intensive apps running, even when it's connected to power. I'm trying to isolate variables while troubleshooting, and one of those variables is different USB-C cables.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Aug 11, 2022 7:01 PM

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Posted on Aug 12, 2022 2:46 AM

The thicker cables are designed to carry a heavier electrical load than the "thinner" ones. You'll note the charger cable for a MacBook Air or Pro is thicker; this is the reason.


Data does not generally require heavier copper wire so all data-only cables are the same smaller size and capable of carrying small electrical loads.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 12, 2022 2:46 AM in response to colinmorris

The thicker cables are designed to carry a heavier electrical load than the "thinner" ones. You'll note the charger cable for a MacBook Air or Pro is thicker; this is the reason.


Data does not generally require heavier copper wire so all data-only cables are the same smaller size and capable of carrying small electrical loads.

Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Cables of Different Thickness

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