Apple has released a new high-end Thunderbolt 3 cable to customers online, that allows users to connect their Mac to external drives and displays, such as the Apple’s Pro Display XDR, with a rapid transfer data speeds of 40Gbps.
The $129 Thunderbolt 3 Pro cable is 2 meters long, featuring the same braided design as that rumored to be used on this year’s new Lightning to USB-C cable, expected to ship with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.
So, the burning question, why is the cable so expensive? Firstly, the length. Apple’s regular non-pro 0.8-meter Thunderbolt 3 cable is priced at $39 and offers the same functionality as the new, larger pro version.
Secondly, the speed. According to the cable’s listing on Apple.com, it can transfer data over Thunderbolt 3 at up to 40Gbps and also supports 100 watts of power delivery.
The fact the cable is so long but offers such high transfer data speeds will be a dream come true for some power users, and may be enough to justify the high price point.
