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This free Mac app reveals the truth about your mystery USB-C cables
·1 min read
Key Takeaway
Nearly three years ago, I showed you an awesome $8 cable tester that quickly tells you if your USB-C cable is likely fast, slow, powerful, or weak. Sadly, that gadget got discontinued, and I've never found anything as intuitive or inexpensive since.
Published July 13, 2026 · Category: Tech
Overview
WhatCable. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge
Nearly three years ago, I showed you an awesome $8 cable tester that quickly tells you if your USB-C cable is likely fast, slow, powerful, or weak. Sadly, that gadget got discontinued, and I've never found anything as intuitive or inexpensive since. But if you've got a Mac with Apple Silicon chips, you can simply download an even more impressive tester for free.
It's called WhatCable, and it works by reading the data your Mac already collects about attached USB devices, data that Apple doesn't normally pass along to you. Just click a little widget that lives in the menu bar atop your Mac, and you can see every USB-C cable and device attach …
What is "This free Mac app reveals the truth about your mystery USB-C cables" about?+
Nearly three years ago, I showed you an awesome $8 cable tester that quickly tells you if your USB-C cable is likely fast, slow, powerful, or weak. Sadly, that gadget got discontinued, and I've never found anything as intuitive or inexpensive since. But if you've got a Mac with Apple Silicon chips, you can simply […]
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EssentialRequired for the site to function. Always active.
AnalyticsHelp us understand how visitors interact with the site.
AdvertisingUsed to deliver personalized ads.
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