At last, a true competitor emerges for Apple's pricey Thunderbolt 4 cable.
USB4 in its name, but with the essence of Thunderbolt 4.
OWC has launched two new long active optical USB4 cables, available in lengths of nearly 3 meters (10 feet) and 4.5 meters (15 feet), offering data transfer performance of up to 40Gbps. According to information provided by OWC, the prices are $98.99 and $129.99, respectively, although they are listed on their website for a slightly lower cost. This option is more affordable compared to the pricing set by Apple.
Regarding power, OWC states that the 3-meter cable provides up to 240W, while the 4.5-meter cable offers 60W. Additionally, they are coated with braided nylon, suggesting that they are flexible for use. Although they are not Thunderbolt 4 cables, they are compatible with devices that support Thunderbolt 3 or 4, including hubs and docks.
Intel typically guarantees Thunderbolt 4 performance at distances of up to 2 meters with conventional copper cables. These require special technology to maintain high performance over longer distances, which may explain Apple's $159 price for its 3-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable. While some USB4 cables are available that are as long as OWC's at lower prices, the longer ones often have inferior data transfer performance. OWC attributes this to the immunity to electromagnetic interference that optical fibers provide.
OWC's new cables represent a nod to the origins of Thunderbolt, which started as Light Peak, an optical cable standard co-developed by Intel and Apple that ended up in a Sony laptop just before both companies opted for copper. In addition to the cables, OWC has also recently introduced a Thunderbolt 5 hub priced at $189.99, which is available for pre-order and is now in stock. This hub features four Thunderbolt 5 ports and one USB-A port, and is capable of supporting three 8K displays simultaneously at 60Hz.
