Four Anker USB-C Cables for Fast Data Transfer, From Thunderbolt 5 Down to Budget Picks

The cable that tops BGR's list of Anker USB-C options is the Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 Cable, priced at $45.99 for the 3.3-foot version. It supports 80Gbps data transfer, which the publication says is fast enough to move a 5GB file in about a second. The bandwidth is also enough to drive dual 8K displays at 60Hz. As a charging cable it is rated for 240W, and Anker says it can bring a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 50% in 26 minutes. That charging figure comes from Anker, not from independent testing.

BGR's starting point is that USB cables are not interchangeable, even though nearly every device now uses a USB-C port. Speed matters, the piece argues, because people expect to move whole libraries of files quickly or stream 8K video in real time. The outlet says major tech reviewers often praise Anker's cables for their transfer speeds and build quality. It narrowed Anker's catalog to four cables aimed at different port types and budgets, rather than simply listing the fastest ones.

The compatibility caveat on the Thunderbolt 5 cable is significant. It will connect to any existing USB-C port, and using it with an older device is fine. But full Thunderbolt 5 speed requires a Thunderbolt 5-compatible port. Given the price, BGR says it only makes sense if you own a device that fully supports it.

The second pick is the Anker 515 USB-C to USB-C 240W Cable, which is a USB4 cable also compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. It costs $29.99 for 3.3 feet and supports 40Gbps on a USB4 or Thunderbolt port. BGR says that is enough to move an entire music or movie library in under a minute. The cable can fast-charge any high-end laptop and handles 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz for displays. Thunderbolt 5 is roughly twice as fast as Thunderbolt 4 in most respects, but Thunderbolt 4 arrived in 2020, so far more devices can use the 515. For anything without a Thunderbolt 5 port, BGR calls its 40Gbps the best you can buy.

The budget option is the Anker 333 USB-C to USB-C 100W Cable, limited to 480Mbps. That is about 80 times slower than a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 cable, but a two-pack of 6-foot cables costs just $12.99. Since not every USB-C port can exceed 480Mbps, BGR says the 333 is the more practical buy for devices without a USB 3.0 or faster port. Its 100W rating is enough to fast-charge phones and most laptops. It also appears on Anker's lifetime warranty list as part of the "New Nylon" family of USB-C to USB-C cables. BGR names it the best USB-C cable for most users.

The fourth is the Anker Nano USB-C to USB-C Cable, also 480Mbps but rated for 240W. That extra wattage is meant for power-hungry hardware like gaming laptops and docking stations. It will not move files faster than the 333, but it charges those machines more efficiently. A single 6-foot cable costs $21.99. BGR notes that a high-wattage cable alone is not enough: you also need a power source and adapter that can deliver 240W, such as the Anker Prime Charging Station plugged into a wall outlet.

On method, BGR says every cable on the list holds a 4.7-star rating or higher on Amazon as of writing, and that it checked user reviews for commonly reported defects. It points readers unsure of their port type to its USB port identification guide. That step comes first: a faster cable gains nothing when plugged into an older port.