At a Glance—
Durable, high-performance 3.3’ (1M) USB-C extension cable (USBC-METER3-1MF) transfers data up to 10Gbps, supports 240W Extended Power Range, Alt Mode video up to 4K 60Hz, and features a digital power meter. It’s an incredibly versatile cable
Ultra High-Speed Charging—
Male to female USB-C extension cable delivers up to 240W, Video, and 10Gbps data. Connect it to your current charger and USB C charger cable,to charge even the most power-hungry laptops and devices from farther away. A whole 3.3’ (1m) farther away
Built-In Power Meter—
Easy to use, digital read-out to monitor power usage or charging flow of your device, doesn’t sacrifice advanced USB-C features missing from lesser extenders. A braided black cord protects the USB C charging cable. This Type C to Type C cable is built to last
Works With—
Broad compatibility with USB-C devices and advanced features. It is worth noting that the power, data, and video capabilities are dependent on the capabilities of the USB-C cable and other devices connected to this extension cable
2-Year Coverage, Lifetime Support—
Every Plugable product, including this 3ft USB C extension cable, is covered against defects for 2 years and comes with lifetime support. If you ever have questions, contact our North American-based team - even before purchase
The Plugable USB 10Gbps USBC to USBC extension cable (male to female) with Built-In 240W Power Meter with Male and Female connection (USBC-METER3-1MF) has a lot going for it. For starters, it’ll extend your current USBC cable by 3.3’ (1m), and deliver up to 240W of charging power. That means you can combine it with your laptop’s USB-C charging cable to give you (and your laptop) a little extra room to move around.
When extending an equally capable USB Type C cable, like the Plugable USB4-240W-1M, get 240W Extended Power Range support, or support for video Alt mode at up to 4K 60Hz. It also supports impressive 10Gbps data transfer speeds. It also braided cord and the aluminum housing to keep it durable.
Of course, the most unique feature of the Plugable USB-C to USB-C cable is the built-in USB power meter. Now your USB C cord can monitor your power draw and consumption. Check to see if all of your laptop’s USB-C ports deliver the same charge. And you’ll finally find out if that “Super Best Fast Speed Charger” you ordered (I mean it was so cheap how could you resist) actually delivers the charge it claims on the package.
Built-In Power Meter
Measure your power flow and consumption with real-time monitoring on the digital power meter.
240W Extended Power Range
The first USB-C extension cable with a power meter capable of 240W power delivery.
4K 60Hz Video
Supports video over USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode at up to 4K 60Hz.
Compatibility
Compatible with most USB-C devices. Actual performance depends on connected devices.
When paired with a capable USB-C cable this USB-C extension cable is compatible with virtually all USB-C chargers, devices, and hosts, including support for USB 10Gbps, DisplayPort Alternate Mode video (up to 4K 60Hz), and up to 240W USB-C Power Delivery R3.1 EPR (Extended Power Range) charging. Not compatible with Intel Thunderbolt 3, 4, or USB4 devices.
How it works:
This USB-C extension cable with meter is a transparent interposer–it should not interfere with USB data, USB-C Alternate Mode video, or USB-C charging. The cable can be used in-line with USB-C docking stations, chargers, and other USB-C accessories. The cable is able to achieve this without interfering with normal USB-C operation as it only taps into the power (VBUS) and ground connections to measure values and leaves the data lines untouched.
The Plugable USB-C Extension Cable is bi-directional, however, typical usage will have the male side (without power meter display) connected to a charger for example, and the female end (with power meter display) will be connected to another USB-C to USB-C cable going to the device being charged.
Another common use case would be using this cable to provide easier access to a hard to reach USB-C port on the back of a desktop computer or docking station, extending the USB-C connection to a more convenient location and with the meter display easily viewable.
Ultimately which side is used for input or output does not matter. If current is flowing, the meter's display should turn on and show the approximate charge rate in watts.
Important notes:
This USB-C extension cable with meter is not meant to replace professional USB-C test equipment, it is designed for quick/easy measurement of wattage for users of any skill level.
Not compatible with Intel Thunderbolt 3, 4, or USB4 devices.
Under normal circumstances the meter will not power on without a device connected (host, charger, accessory, etc) at both ends. If the meter turns on when only connected at one end, the attached device is "VBUS hot" which is against USB-C specifications.
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The new USB Power Delivery specifications allow for the delivery of up to 240W via a USB Type-C cable (an increase from the previous 100W max). The previous Power Delivery range has been relabeled as Standard Power Range (SPR), and the new specifications (between 100W and 240W), have been labeled as Extended Power Range (EPR).
Understanding your laptop's video output capabilities is essential when connecting to external displays. This guide will help you identify what video technologies your laptop supports and how to find the relevant information.
Common Video Output Technologies
Modern laptops commonly use one or more of the following technologies to transmit video to external monitors:
1. Thunderbolt 3
Supports video output using the DisplayPort protocol.
Capable of driving up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or one 5K display at 60Hz.
Uses a USB-C connector and features a lightning bolt symbol next to the port.
Note: An example of Thunderbolt 3 ports
2. Thunderbolt 4
Provides improved performance over Thunderbolt 3.
Supports up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or one 8K display.
Uses a USB-C connector with the same lightning bolt symbol but may also include the number "4" for identification.
Note: Thunderbolt 4 has the same physical connection and “lightning” bolt icon as Thunderbolt 3
3. Thunderbolt 5 (As of 2024)
Up to 80 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth (Double that of Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gbps).
Up to 120 Gbps bandwidth for displays (With Bandwidth Boost — 120 Gbps upstream and 40 Gbps downstream for display-intensive use cases).
Support for dual 6K or 8K displays (Compared to Thunderbolt 4’s dual 4K support).
4. USB-C DisplayPort "Alt Mode"
Allows video output directly through the USB-C port using DisplayPort technology.
Commonly supports one 4K display at 60Hz, but capabilities may vary.
Often marked with a DisplayPort ("DP") symbol, but this feature may also be specified in your system's documentation.
Note: An example of a USB-C port with DisplayPort capabilities
How to Identify Your Laptop's Video Capabilities
To determine what video technologies your laptop supports, follow these steps:
1. Check Your Laptop's User Manual:
Locate your laptop's user manual (often available online from the manufacturer's support site).
Search for keywords like "Thunderbolt," "DisplayPort Alt Mode," or "video output capabilities."
2. Visit the Manufacturer's Website:
Go to the support page for your laptop model and find the technical specifications section.
Look for details on Thunderbolt or USB-C video capabilities.
3. Inspect Your Laptop's Ports:
Check for identifying symbols next to USB-C ports:
Thunderbolt 3/4 ports may have a lightning bolt symbol.
DisplayPort Alt Mode may be marked with a "DP" icon.
“What if I do not have the above technologies?”: USB 3.0 (Type-A) and Display Expansion
While USB 3.0 (Type-A) ports do not support native video output, they can still be used to extend to two or more displays using software-based solutions like DisplayLink or Silicon Motion's InstantView. These technologies enable video through USB-A ports by utilizing dedicated drivers and software.
If your laptop lacks Thunderbolt or USB-C video capabilities, DisplayLink or InstantView may be a viable alternative for expanding your display setup. A few other things to consider:
Not all USB-C ports support video output. Checking your laptop's documentation is crucial to confirm this capability.
Thunderbolt ports are backward compatible with USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode but provide enhanced performance and flexibility.
If you have further questions about connecting your Plugable docking station or adapter to your laptop, please reach out to our support team for guidance.
Many users assume that USB-C devices can work with older Thunderbolt 2 Macs if they use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, such as the one made by Apple. However, this is not the case. These adapters are specifically designed to support Thunderbolt devices only -not standard USB-C peripherals.
While Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C share the same connector type, they use different underlying data protocols. Non-Thunderbolt USB-C devices, rely on USB standards for data and power. The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter does not carry USB signals; it only passes Thunderbolt data. Because of this, plugging a USB-C device into a Thunderbolt 2 Mac using this adapter will not work - the computer will not detect or communicate with the device.
If you need to connect peripherals to a Thunderbolt 2 system, we recommend using a USB-A dock or hub (if available on your system). This ensures compatibility without relying on unsupported adapter chains.
In short, even though the connectors may fit, USB-C devices are not compatible with Thunderbolt 2 Macs via Thunderbolt adapters - only Thunderbolt devices will work in that setup.
All Thunderbolt docking stations include the appropriate Thunderbolt cable in order to connect the docking station to the host computer. As of this writing, all Plugable Thunderbolt host cables that are included with Plugable Thunderbolt docking stations are 1.0 meter (approximately 3.3) feet in overall length.
For reference, the specifications of all Plugable Thunderbolt cables are printed on a small white cable flag attached to the cable itself.
If the original 1.0 meter long Thunderbolt host cable is not sufficient for a specific use case, longer cables of up to 2.0 meters (approximately 6.6 feet) in overall length can be purchased separately from Plugable. An example of such a cable is the Plugable TBT4-40G2M cable
Plugable does NOT support using Thunderbolt host connection cables that are over 2.0 meters in overall length with any Plugable brand product.
Plugable does NOT support the use of any type of Thunderbolt extension cable or any type of signal repeater in conjunction with our products.
Please note, Plugable can only guarantee the performance and compatibility of Plugable brand cables.
All Plugable USB-C docking stations include the appropriate USB-C cable in order to connect the docking station to the host computer. As of this writing, all Plugable USB-C host cables that are included with Plugable USB-C docking stations are 1.0 meter (approximately 3.3) feet in overall length.
For reference, the specifications of all Plugable brand USB-C cables are printed on a small white cable flag attached to the cable itself.
If the original 1.0 meter long USB-C host cable is not sufficient for a specific use case, longer cables of up to 2.0 meters (approximately 6.6 feet) in overall length can be purchased separately from a 3rd-party.
We recommend purchasing a cable that matches or exceeds the specifications of the original Plugable cable and purchasing said cable from both a well known and reliable brand.
Plugable does offer a 1.0 meter long USB-C extension cable (USBC-METER3-1MF) that can be used in conjunction with our USB-C docking stations. This extension cable can be combined with the original 1.0 meter long Plugable USB-C cable included in the box with the docking station to extend the overall cable length to 2.0 meters.
Plugable does NOT support using USB-C host connection cables that are over 2.0 meters in overall length with any Plugable brand product. Additionally, Plugable does NOT support the use of any type of 3rd-party USB-C extension cable or signal repeater in conjunction with our products.
For most modern Windows and Mac systems, Thunderbolt devices are automatically approved and will ‘just work’ once connected.
The main exception is Apple Mac laptops with Apple CPUs running macOS Ventura (13) or newer, where you’ll be prompted to manually approve the device the first time you connect it.
The summary table below provides the specific details at a glance, and the text that follows explains the table in more detail.
To expand further, Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 are in essence external connections to the host computer’s internal PCI Express bus. This type of low-level and high speed connection warranted security protocols to prevent unauthorized access to user data.
Windows: From Intel Software to Native OS Support
When Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems were first introduced in late 2015 it was necessary to use Intel Thunderbolt software to manually authenticate and approve external Thunderbolt devices.
With the introduction of Thunderbolt 4 Windows systems in 2020, it was still necessary to have Intel Thunderbolt software installed on the host computer. However, in most cases the authentication and approval process would happen automatically greatly simplifying the process.
Starting with Windows 11 version 21H2 released in October of 2021, Microsoft integrated support for both USB4 and Thunderbolt into the Windows operating system → LINK
This means that with most modern Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 computers running the latest version of Windows 11 it is no longer necessary to install Intel Thunderbolt software on the host computer in order to manage Thunderbolt devices. In most cases, the authentication and approval process will still happen automatically.
macOS: From Intel CPUs to Apple CPUs
When Thunderbolt 3 Mac systems with Intel CPUs were first introduced in 2016, the authentication and approval mechanism was built-in to macOS and was transparent to the end user.
Apple introduced Mac computers based on Apple CPUs in 2020. Macs based on Apple CPUs running macoS 11 Big Sur or macOS 12 Monterey would automatically approve and authenticate Thunderbolt devices when connected.
macOS 13 Ventura was released in 2022 and for portable Macs with Apple CPUs Apple introduced a feature known as ‘Accessory Security’ (also known as ‘Restricted Mode’) → LINK
By default, portable Macs (i.e. laptops) with an Apple CPU running macOS 13 Ventura or newer version of macOS will require the end user to authenticate and approve a Thunderbolt device when initially connected.
Stationary Macs (i.e. desktops) with an Apple CPU running macOS 13 Ventura or newer version of macOS do NOT implement the ‘Accessory Security’ feature. As a result, Thunderbolt devices will be automatically approved and authenticated when initially connected.
Apple Macs with Intel CPUs (both laptop and desktops) running macOS 13 Ventura or newer do NOT implement the ‘Accessory Security’ feature. As a result, Thunderbolt devices will be automatically approved and authenticated when initially connected.