BLUF

The USB-C cable seems to have become the default for charging and data transfer. But what can confuse the end user is that every USB-C cable looks like any other USB-C cable, which can lead to problems.

Summary

This article by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, writing for ZDNet, makes the following points:
  • USB-C is versatile, allowing for power transfer up to 100W and data speeds of 10Gbps.
  • Not all USB C ports and cables are the same.
  • Your smartphone might come with a 20W USB-C charger, but if you connect that cable to a 140W USB-C charger and use that to connect to your laptop, it could—worst case scenario—result in a fire.
  • E-Mark (Electronically Marked) is a protocol controller designed to help.
  • The idea is that USB-C cables could be electronically tagged with their power rating and data transfer rates. 
  • Tagging could help prevent power overloading when charging your device.

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Source: ZDNET Technology US Company