During the presentation of the Studio Display and the Mac Studio at the beginning of March, Apple also launched a product intended in particular to connect the two. This is the Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable with 1.8 m long, sold for 149 euros in France. This accessory echoes the identical connector of the previous generation, available after WWDC 2020 at the same price but with 20 centimeters more.
This year, the manufacturer still guarantees data transfer speed up to 40 Gbit/s or 10 Gbit / s in USB 3.1 Gen 2. Compatibility with DisplayPort is also included for video streams. But that’s not all, since the power of the cable reaches 100 watts which allows it to also act as a charger if necessary. As a reminder, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip sometimes comes with a 96-watt power adapter.
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The YouTube channel ChargerLabintrigued by these staggering amounts, decided to dismantle the Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable to find out what’s inside. In particular, there are no less than nineteen different wires, six of which are dedicated to power supply and energy transfer. These are covered with coppera material that can cost up to 10 euros/kg in some cases.
But that’s not all, since to obtain effective conductivity Apple has also bet onor (more than 50,000 euros/kg) whileargent (up to 718 euros/kg at the most recent exchange rate) is used in some sheaths. All this without counting a intel processor and the braided design of the final layer, convenient to prevent the cable from getting tangled or damaged too easily.
For what uses?
You can imagine: displayed at nearly 150 euros, Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable is clearly not dedicated to all audiences. As its name suggests, it is mainly aimed at professionals looking for high-end performance and robust hardware. Here, for example, you can plug up to six devices in Thunderbolt 3: enough to afford a stunning graphical installation with a Mac Pro or a Mac Studio. Traders, video content creators and other producers will appreciate.
Moreover, if you are still looking for a USB-C cable but for more common use such as charging an iPhone, it is better to turn to third-party or lower-cost alternatives. Still at Apple, the USB-C charging cable with a length of 1 m to power an iPad thus costs 25 euros each.
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Par: Keleops AG
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