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A great charger is only as good as the cable connecting it. SmartGear Outlet carries a curated range of USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to Lightning, USB-A to USB-C, and HDMI cables from trusted brands like UGREEN, Anker, and Baseus. Every cable in our catalogue supports fast charging, uses durable braided nylon or silicone jackets, and ships free across the UK.
A low-quality cable can bottleneck your charger, limiting output to 5 W even when your charger supports 100 W. Worse, uncertified cables may lack over-current protection, posing a fire risk. All cables at SmartGear Outlet are USB-IF certified and rated for the wattage advertised. Read our best USB-C cables UK guide for test results.
USB-C to USB-C cables are the gold standard for modern charging. Look for cables marked "E-Marked" if you need 100 W (5 A) power delivery — these contain an electronic chip that tells your charger the cable can handle high current safely. For 240 W PD 3.1 charging, you'll need an EPR-rated cable.
Not all USB-C cables transfer data at the same speed. USB 2.0 cables max out at 480 Mbps (fine for charging), while USB 3.2 Gen 2 cables reach 10 Gbps and Thunderbolt 4 cables hit 40 Gbps. If you connect external SSDs or docking stations, investing in a higher-spec cable saves significant time.
A 100 W charger needs a 5 A E-Marked cable. Using a 3 A cable caps power at 60 W — you won't damage anything, but you'll charge slower than expected.
Shorter cables (0.5–1 m) minimise voltage drop and are ideal for desktop use. Longer cables (2–3 m) suit bedside charging but look for thicker gauge wire to maintain speed. Our glossary explains voltage drop in detail.
Braided nylon cables resist tangling and abrasion, making them ideal for travel. Silicone cables are softer and more flexible — great for desk setups where bend radius matters.
Not always. Fast charging above 60 W requires a 5 A E-Marked cable. Below 60 W, most USB-C cables will work fine, but check the amperage rating to be sure.
Quality braided cables are rated for 10,000–30,000 bend cycles. Under normal use, that translates to several years — far outlasting standard PVC cables.
Slightly. Every additional metre adds resistance, which can reduce delivered wattage by 1–3%. For most phone charging scenarios, the difference is negligible up to 2 m.
Charging performance is identical — the difference is data transfer speed. USB 2.0 tops out at 480 Mbps, while USB 3.2 Gen 2 reaches 10 Gbps. Only buy USB 3.2 if you transfer files through the cable.