Google: Some third-party USB-C cables are dangerous when charging laptops

Some cheap usb-c cables are dangerous to charge laptops with because they don’t follow the usb-c specification properly. This is what Google concludes after an inventory of cables that are for sale at Amazon web store.

Google engineer Benson Leung has published a list of cable reviews on Amazon to warn users against the sometimes dangerous cables. According to him, things often go wrong because manufacturers do not build in the necessary 56k weerstand resistance with a USB-C to USB-A 2.0 cable. As a result, the Chromebook tries to take the Pixel 3A out of the charger, while the USB-a side may not be able to handle it. As a result, damage may occur to a charger or USB hub.

Leung says on Google+ that he wants to warn with the reviews about lower-quality cables, which can therefore not charge the Chromebook Pixel and perhaps other laptops with USB-C. The technician also posted a way online to check if a cable is OK on a Chromebook Pixel. Usb-c is the reversible USB connection, which has been in use since this year in laptops, tablets and smartphones, among other things.