Apple has quietly released a new version of its official Thunderbolt 4 cable. The latest version is three meters in size, making it the only Thunderbolt 4-certified cable over two meters. Until now, Apple’s official Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) cable was only available in the 1.8-meter size, and the TB4 cables from third-party manufacturers top out at two meters. So if you have been waiting for a long TB4 cable, this Apple cable is your best option.
Unlike Apple’s most other cables that are a flimsy mess, this Thunderbolt 4 cable is quite well-made. In addition, it’s braided for extra durability.
As you can expect from a TB4-certified cable, it can carry data at up to 40Gbps and has USB-C ports. The cable is compatible with the USB4 standard. In addition, you can use it to push video signal from your computer to your Thunderbolt 4 or 3 monitor or deliver power from your monitor to your laptop at up to 100W.
Apple Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable price, availability
The Apple Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable carries a price tag of $159 for the three-meter size and $129 for the 1.8-meter size. Unfortunately, while the 1.8-meter version is available via both Amazon and Apple, you can only buy the three-meter version from Apple right now. Hopefully, it will land on Amazon soon.
Best Thunderbolt 4 cables from other manufacturers
While the Apple Thunderbolt cable is quite good, its price tag may deter some buyers. So if you don’t need a three-meter cable and you can manage with a shorter cable, here are some of the best alternatives to the Apple cable.
- Anker USB-C to USB-C Thunderbolt 4.0 Cable (2.3 ft, 0.7 meter): $49
- Belkin Active Thunderbolt 4 Cable (2 meter, 6.6 ft): $80
- Cable Matters Thunderbolt 4 Cable (2.6 ft, 0.8 meter): $29
- Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Cable (3.2 feet, 1 meter): $29
If you are also interested in USB-C or lightning cables, I have published buying guides on the best USB-C cables for charging, best USB-C cables for data transfer, and the best lightning cables.