| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| USB4 and Thunderbolt 5 compatible | Plastic connector feels cheap |
| Supports 240W charging | Stiff and not very flexible |
| No bend rating provided | |
| Expensive |
Cable Matters has long been a go-to for solid, reliable cables but this latest USB4 release gave us some serious second thoughts. On paper, it’s everything you’d want: 240W charging, Thunderbolt 5 compatibility, and even USB4 speeds. But when we pushed it through our regular tests, the performance crumbled. If you’re banking on this one holding up long-term, you’ll want to read on.
Design
| Advertised Length | Measured Length | Cable Type | Charging Spec | Connector Material | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6m | 0.62m | USB4 | PD 3.1 (EPR) | Plastic | Not flexible |
Cable Matters looks good at first glance. It’s thick, rubber-coated, and marketed as USB4 and Thunderbolt 5-compatible. The connector has “80G” printed on it, presumably referring to 80Gbps bandwidth, which sounds promising. But Thunderbolt 5 isn’t exactly widespread yet, and physically, the cable has its drawbacks. It’s fairly stiff and not easy to route cleanly. Also, the all-plastic connector feels a bit cheap for something this high spec. The cable we tested was listed at 0.6 meters, and we measured it at 0.62—so at least Cable Matters doesn’t skimp on length.
Performance
| Test | Pre-Bend | Post-Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage Drop | 0.54V | ❌ Failed |
| Resistance | 0.165 Ω | ❌ Failed |
| Large File Write Speed | 238.0 MB/s | ❌ Failed |
| Large File Read Speed | 234.0 MB/s | ❌ Failed |
| 1GB Folder Write Speed | 236.0 MB/s | ❌ Failed |
| 1GB Folder Read Speed | 233.0 MB/s | ❌ Failed |
| 5GB Folder Write Speed | 238.0 MB/s | ❌ Failed |
| 5GB Folder Read Speed | 233.0 MB/s | ❌ Failed |
Out of the box, performance was solid. The cable passed all our power delivery protocol pulls. Voltage drop was 0.54V which was better than average and resistance was low at 0.165 Ω. Charging hit the expected 240W threshold, and data speeds were consistent with USB4 standards. Nothing stood out as exceptional, but it was reliable and clean through the first round of testing.
Durability
| Rated Bends | Bends Tested | Visible Wear | Functional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 11,000 | Minor fraying | ❌ No |
Here’s where it all unraveled. Cable Matters doesn’t publish a bend rating for this cable, so we put it through our standard 10,000-bend test. Visually, there was just a small bump near the head. But internally? Total failure. The cable no longer passed any charging tests, voltage drop spiked dramatically, and none of our devices could detect it for data transfer. Write speed dropped by 169 MB/s, read by 590 MB/s and then it stopped working altogether. In short, the cable didn’t just degrade. It bricked.
Value
This is where things get even worse. At $17.99 for 0.6 meters, this cable ends up at $29.25 per meter making it one of the more expensive USB4 options we’ve tested. And with no included extras or above-average durability, it’s tough to justify the price. Especially when we’ve seen cheaper cables survive the same bend test without any performance issues.
Verdict
Cable Matters has a strong track record, but this USB4 cable is a rare miss. It started off well, hit all the right specs, and charged exactly as promised until it didn’t. After just one durability test, it completely fell apart. With a premium price tag and poor long-term resilience, we just can’t recommend it. There are better, more durable options out there for the same or less money.