Leung of USB-C cable is helpful. So are spreadsheets cobbled together by denizens of the Internet. But how can the average consumer pick the right cable before ruining his smartphone or laptop?
Looking at the Plug of USB-C cable
For starters, look at the USB plug itself.
"A good cable uses a deep-draw extrusion method that produces a Type C plug that is a single piece of metal and does not have a visible seam on one side of the plug," said Tim North, a senior product manager at Monoprice (which recently had a cable approved by Leung). A folded and stamped connector, North explained, is usually made of zinc tin alloy which is easily broken and may not handle the cable's power requirements.
But without the cable in hand, it's hard to say for sure.
