When Apple announced Mac Studio and Studio Display earlier this year, the company also quietly introduced a new Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable capable of up to 40Gb / s data transfer and charging up to 100W. Although it comes with the high price of $ 129, a new demolition of the cable shows why the accessory is super expensive.
The demolition was carried out by ChargerLAB, who posted a YouTube video showing all the details and specifications of Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable. The cable that was separated was the 1.8 meter version, as the 3 meter version (price $ 159) is not yet available in stores.
Apple’s new Thunderbolt cable has a braided design that folds together without being filtered and makes it more durable. But even though it may look like a regular cable on the outside despite its 5 millimeter diameter, the inside of the cable reveals some interesting details.
As shown by ChargerLAB, the accessory is a coaxial cable with 19 wires inside. The cable is protected by a waterproof and dustproof woven layer. Under the fabric, there is another protection made of thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) with a thin foil layer for shielding.
Among the 19 wires, there are 5 tinned copper wires used for power supply. The video notes that most of the wires are plated with silver and pure copper. It also highlights 2 white plastic-covered wires used for USB 2.0 transmission (the cable is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and standard USB).
The inside of the connectors, which are protected by hard black plastic and a brass sleeve, carry several components. One of the most notable components is an Intel chip that controls the Thunderbolt connection and acts as a signal reconstructor to reduce signal jitter. Each connector has 24 legs, all of which are gold-plated.
ChargerLAB explains that Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable is very well built with premium materials that make it more durable and less susceptible to interference, not to mention the licensed Intel chip that stabilizes signal transmission. Professionals who constantly transfer large amounts of data will definitely benefit from the cable, which the video says is one of the best in its class.
You can buy the Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable from the Apple Store, or look for more affordable third-party alternatives at Amazon.
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