Are all USB-C cables the same? What the e-marker chip does
The plugs match. What the cable can carry does not, and some cables contain a small chip whose job is to say so.
Jonathan Marsh
Jonathan Marsh writes Best Tech Now's guides to chargers, cables, power banks and phone batteries.
What he covers
- USB-C chargers and how they agree on power with a device
- USB-C cables, their ratings and their labels
- Power banks, including the rules for carrying them on planes
- Phone batteries and what wears them out
Articles
Can you take a power bank on a plane? The rules after the March 2026 change
Yes, in your carry-on and never in checked bags. International rules tightened in 2026: two per person, and no recharging the power bank on board.
Does fast charging damage your phone's battery?
Every lithium-ion battery wears out. Phone makers build fast charging around that fact, and what they warn owners about is heat and long hours at full charge.
How USB-C Power Delivery works: the short conversation before your phone charges
A USB-C PD charger does not simply push power at your phone. It lists what it can supply, the phone asks for what it wants, and only then does the voltage change.
Is USB-C the same as Thunderbolt? The plug is shared, the abilities are not
USB-C names the shape of a connector. Thunderbolt names what can run through it. A port can look identical and do very different things.
Advertorial
10 devices, one wall socket: 6 reasons one hub ends the charger tangle
For a desk or counter with more chargers than sockets: one 10-port GaN hub on a single wall socket.
Advertorial
Can I use a third-party cable on my phone?
How to tell if a spare cable is safe, and the USB-C cable we make.
Advertorial
What is a GaN charger, and what do you need for a trip?
Bag half packed, GaN and PD on every listing. The plain answer, and what your trip actually depends on.