Updated November 2026: The Cable Matters Thunderbolt 4 Cable is sold as an Intel-certified 40Gbps USB-C cable, with Thunderbolt 4 data, video and charging over one connection. Buy it if you have Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 gear to connect. If you only need to charge a phone or laptop, it’s more cable than you need. A few owners report failures within six months, so keep your receipt.
How we reviewed it: this review is based on Cable Matters’ published specifications, Intel’s Thunderbolt product listing, and owner feedback on Amazon as of November 2026.
Verdict: Worth it if you have Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 gear. Too much cable for charging alone.
Check price on AmazonBuy it if
- You're connecting a Thunderbolt dock, display or fast external drive
- You want one cable for data, video and power at a desk
Skip it if
- You only charge devices
- Your computer has no Thunderbolt or USB4 port
- You want to plug straight into an HDMI TV
- Data
- 40Gbps
- Charging
- Up to 240W
- Video
- One 8K or two 4K displays
- Length
- 3.3 ft (1 m)
What Thunderbolt 4 gets you
Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C use the same plug, but the plug says nothing about what a cable can carry. Plenty of USB-C charging cables are limited to USB 2.0 data speeds. A Thunderbolt 4 cable is built for 40Gbps data, video and power over one connection.
| Cable type | Data | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C charging cable | Often 480Mbps | Charging a phone, tablet or laptop |
| USB4 40Gbps cable | 40Gbps | Fast storage and docks without Thunderbolt-specific needs |
| Thunderbolt 4 cable | 40Gbps | Thunderbolt docks, displays and storage |
Your computer has to support it as well. A cable can’t add Thunderbolt to a laptop that doesn’t have it.
Specifications
| Certification | Intel certified, per Cable Matters |
| Data | 40Gbps |
| Video | One 8K display or two 4K displays; advertised up to 8K@60 and 4K@240 |
| Charging | USB Power Delivery 3.1, up to 240W |
| Compatibility | Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4 and USB-C |
| Length on this listing | 3.3 ft (1 m) |
| Other lengths and colors | 1 ft and 2.6 ft; black or white in some lengths |
| Listed monitors | Dell UltraSharp U3224KB and U4025QW, BenQ PD3225U |
Is it actually Intel certified?
Cable Matters sells this cable as Intel certified, and Intel’s Thunderbolt site lists a Cable Matters 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 cable as certified. That entry uses the name “Premium 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 Cable” and doesn’t name this exact Amazon listing, so we can confirm the brand has a certified cable but can’t tie the entry to this specific ASIN. Certification matters because it means the design was tested for the Thunderbolt feature set, and it’s one of the main reasons to choose a Thunderbolt cable over a generic USB-C one.
Video and displays
The listing promises enough bandwidth for one 8K display or two 4K displays, and it advertises 8K@60 and 4K@240. Treat those as the cable’s ceiling. What you actually get depends on your computer’s graphics hardware and on what the monitor accepts. Cable Matters also says it supports daisy-chaining, so two 4K monitors can run from a single port through a chain or a dock.
This cable has USB-C on both ends, so it won’t plug straight into an HDMI port on a TV. For that you need a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter, and the HDMI side sets the limits.
Do you need 240W charging?
Probably not today. The 240W rating is the most the cable can carry, not what it will push into your device. A laptop draws only what it’s designed to draw, so a 240W-rated cable is fine with a 65W or 100W laptop. The benefit is headroom for high-power machines and one less cable to replace later.
What owners say
Amazon’s customer review summary for this listing (November 2026), pooled across its lengths and colors, sorts owner comments by topic:
- Mostly praised: functionality, quality, speed, charging speed and data transfer speed.
- More mixed: compatibility, durability and value for money.
Owners generally report that it works well with an M1 MacBook Pro and transfers files quickly. Durability is the weak area, and Amazon’s summary notes failures within six months. Compatibility draws complaints too. These are small samples, but they’re a reason to buy from a seller with simple returns.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sold as Intel certified
- 40Gbps with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 support
- Up to 240W charging
- Drives one 8K or two 4K displays when your hardware supports it
- Strong overall owner rating
Cons
- More cable than you need for simple charging
- Some owners report early failures
- Won’t connect to HDMI without an adapter
- 3.3 ft can be short for a desk with a tower or a far-off dock
Who should buy it
Buy it to connect a Thunderbolt dock, a Thunderbolt or USB4 display, or fast external storage. It’s also a sensible single cable for a desk where one connection handles data, video and power.
Skip it if you only charge devices, or if your computer has no Thunderbolt or USB4 port. Either way you’d be paying for capability you can’t use. If your real goal is connecting to a TV, start with our HDMI cable buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C?
USB-C is the connector shape. Thunderbolt 4 is a standard that uses that connector and requires 40Gbps, video and charging support. Many USB-C cables do far less, with some limited to USB 2.0 data speeds.
Will this cable charge a MacBook at 240W?
No laptop draws more than it is designed to take. The 240W figure is the cable’s ceiling, and a MacBook will charge at its own rate.
Does it work with Thunderbolt 3 devices?
Yes. Cable Matters lists full backward compatibility with Thunderbolt 3 devices and hosts.
Can it connect a laptop to an HDMI TV?
Not directly, because it has USB-C on both ends. You need a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter.
Does length affect Thunderbolt 4 speed?
Thunderbolt 4 supports full 40Gbps on passive cables up to 2 meters. Longer runs generally use active cables, so the 3.3 ft version here is within that range.
Is it worth paying more than for a basic USB-C cable?
Only if you connect Thunderbolt or USB4 devices. For charging alone, a basic USB-C cable rated for your device’s wattage is enough.
Final verdict: Worth the price?
Yes, if you have Thunderbolt or USB4 gear to connect. It offers the full Thunderbolt 4 feature set and a strong owner rating. If all you do is charge a device, save your money and buy a basic USB-C cable with the right wattage.
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