This Baseus USB-C cable has a real-time watt readout and now we can never go back

USB-C cables can currently charge up to 100 W and soon up to 240 W for supported devices. However, charging rates differ between devices and most don't support charging speeds anywhere near 100 W. Thus, it helps to know exactly how much power a charging device is pulling from the cable so you can have a better idea of its charging rate.

The Baseus USB-C charging cable addresses this concern by integrating a watt display directly onto the cable itself. The cable is braided to resist hard bends, can output up to 100 W (20V/5A), can offer transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps, and is relatively long at 200 cm.

Based on our time with a sample provided by the manufacturer, the real-time LED readout on the cable is very quick as it refreshes about two times a second. Nonetheless, keep in mind that the readout is only on one end of the cable and it is only visible on one side. The display could therefore be upside-down or not visible at all depending on its orientation.

We tested the USB-C cable by connecting it to a Huawei Mate 10 Pro and then to a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G10. When connected to the Huawei smartphone, the cable would show a steady reading of 15 to 16 W which is what we expected from our 5V/3A AC adapter. Similarly, the cable would show 48 W when connected to our Lenovo laptop and a 15V/3A AC adapter.

If you're looking to find out exactly how much power is going through your devices, then this is the $15 USD cable to invest in.