Câbles USB-C : 60W, 100W, 140W, 240W, e-marker & EPR — comment choisir (et éviter les faux goulots) ? — Guide LymobileShop 2025

USB-C Cables: 60W, 100W, 140W, 240W, e-marker & EPR — How to Choose (and Avoid False Bottlenecks)? — LymobileShop Guide 2025

You have a beefy power bank, a beefy wall charger, a state-of-the-art smartphone or laptop… and yet the charge is stagnating. Culprit number 1: the cable. In 2025, USB-C looks simple (“one cable that does it all”), but the reality hides power levels (60/100/140/240W), current constraints (3A vs. 5A), mandatory e-marker cables beyond 60W, and a new EPR (Extended Power Range) era to reach 240W in PD 3.1. This LymobileShop guide explains how to choose THE right cable for your power banks, smartphones, tablets, and laptops—without hidden bottlenecks.

1) Power: 60W vs 100W vs 140W vs 240W — what does it change?

Power (W) = Voltage (V) × Current (A) . With USB-C Power Delivery, two parameters matter:

  • Maximum cable current : 3A (≈ up to 60W in practice) or 5A (up to 100W in SPR, and up to 240W in EPR).
  • Negotiated voltage : classic PD profiles (5/9/12/15/20V…) and, since PD 3.1, extended profiles 28/36/48V (EPR) for 140–240W.

Useful shortcut: – 3A cable (without e-marker) ⇒ up to 60W “clean” (20V×3A). – 5A cable (e-marker) ⇒ up to 100W in SPR (20V×5A); compatible 140/180/240W if the cable is EPR 5A (and charger + device support it).

Concrete examples: • iPhone (USB-C) → 20–30W: a good 3A 60W cable is sufficient.
• Samsung “Super Fast 45W (PPS)” → you need a 5A e-marker cable to avoid throttling.
• Ultrabook 65W/100W → 5A e-marker cable. • Laptop 140W (PD 3.1) → 5A EPR cable advertised as “240W”.

2) e-marker: the electronic “identity card” of your cables

An e-marker is a small chip inside the USB-C cable (in one of the connectors). It tells devices about the cable's capabilities: max current (3A/5A), data speed (USB 2.0 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40+ Gbps), USB4/TB compatibility, EPR support, etc.

  • Mandatory for 5A cables (over 3A).
  • Almost always present on USB4/Thunderbolt (high speed) cables.
  • Allows secure trading: without e-marker, the chain limits the current to avoid risks.

Consequence: if you are aiming for ≥100W or 45W Samsung PPS usages, not just any “USB-C” cable will do. You need a 5A e-marker cable (ideally explicitly “100W/140W/240W”).

3) SPR vs EPR: Understanding PD 3.1 and 240W Cables

USB-C PD has two power “families”:

  • SPR (Standard Power Range) — up to 100W (typical steps up to 20V×5A).
  • EPR (Extended Power Range, PD 3.1) — new levels at 28V , 36V and 48V to reach 140/180/240W .

To operate the EPR, you need the compatible triplet : EPR charger + EPR 5A cable + EPR device . The EPR cable is specially constructed (insulation, 50V tolerance) and e-marked to announce “240W”. An “old” non-EPR 5A cable can cap at 100W even if it is 5A.

LymobileShop Note: If your laptop is rated at 140W , make sure you buy a cable marked “EPR 240W / 5A” . Otherwise, you’ll be stuck at 100W.

4) Data rate ≠ power: USB 2.0, 5/10/20/40+ Gbps, USB4/Thunderbolt

A major source of confusion: an “ultra-fast” data cable is not necessarily “ultra-powerful” for charging… and vice versa. Two independent specifications coexist:

  • Power : 60/100/140/240W (3A vs 5A, SPR vs EPR).
  • Speed : USB 2.0 (480 Mb/s), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gb/s), Gen 2 (10 Gb/s), Gen 2×2 (20 Gb/s), USB4 (20/40 Gb/s), Thunderbolt (40 Gb/s, and new faster generations in 2025).

You can have a “240W” USB 2.0 cable (excellent power, basic data) or a “100W” USB4 40 Gb/s cable (very fast data, but limited to 100W when charging). The choice therefore depends on your needs: autonomy/power or data speed … or both if you take a “240W USB4” cable.

5) Length, gauge (AWG) and voltage drop

The longer a cable is and the thinner its conductors are, the more losses and voltage drops you will have under heavy load. On a smartphone it is discreet; on a laptop or console in game, it can make the difference (negotiation that goes down, charging that peaks, battery that “slowly loses” despite the power bank).

  • Recommended length : Keep it short/medium (0.5–1.5 m) for fast charging. For longer lengths, choose a cable with a good cross-section.
  • Gauge (AWG) : The smaller the number, the thicker the conductor (e.g. 22-24 AWG for power lines on good 5A cables).
  • Quality : Proper shielding, solid molded connectors, strain relief. A cheap cable heats up more and lasts less time.

LymobileShop Tip: On a 65-100W laptop, use a 1m (or max. 1.5m) 5A cable with a good cross-section. This is the best compromise between mobility and losses.

6) Useful compatibilities (iPhone USB-C, Samsung PPS 45W, consoles, laptops)

iPhone (USB-C)

Recent USB-C iPhones charge very well with USB-C PD 20–30W . No need for a 240W cable: a 3A 60W (good quality) is enough for the maximum speed targeted, with a suitable power bank/PD charger.

Samsung & Android (PPS)

Many high-end Androids (including several Galaxy) benefit from PPS , a PD mode that finely adjusts voltage/current. For the “Super Fast 45W” mention on some Samsungs, you need a PD + PPS 45W charger and a 5A e-marker cable . A 3A cable can limit the negotiation.

Consoles & tablets

Switch, ROG Ally, and USB-C tablets appreciate good quality 3A/5A cables. For gaming while charging, secure a stable 30–45W (5A cable if the machine runs high on power consumption).

USB-C Laptops

Look at the original adapter: 65W ? 96–100W ? 140W ? – 65/96/100W → 5A e-marker cable (quality). – 140W (PD 3.1) → 5A 240W EPR cable. Without the right cable, your 140W power bank will behave like a 100W.

7) LymobileShop “anti-bottleneck” tables

Choose your cable per device

Device / use Target power Recommended cable For what
iPhone (USB-C) 20–30W USB-C 3A 60W Enough for iPhone landing, light/compact
Samsung 45W (PPS) 45W USB-C 5A e-marker 45W trading requires 5A + e-marker
Recent Android (PPS) 25–45W USB-C 3A/5A (depending on model) PPS appreciated, 5A if the smartphone goes high
Tablets / consoles 30–45W USB-C 5A e-marker Game + stable charge → 5A recommended
Laptop 65–100W 65–100W USB-C 5A e-marker 100W Provides 20V×5A without drop
Laptop 140W (PD 3.1) 140W USB-C EPR 5A 240W EPR required (28/36/48V), 240W cable

USB-A → USB-C: beware of the limits

Cable type Load profiles Remarks
USB-A → USB-C 5V (and sometimes 9/12V via proprietary protocols) Official PD requires USB-C ↔ USB-C. For “universal” fast charging, prefer USB-C ↔ USB-C.
USB-C ↔ USB-C PD (20–240W) + PPS Royal road for modern power banks/chargers.

8) Diagnose a cable: quick tests & checklist

Do you suspect a bottleneck? Here are some simple ways to check:

  1. Look at the print on the cable/box : look for “60W/100W/140W/240W” , “5A” , “EPR” , “USB4/40Gb/s” . No mention = distrust.
  2. Change the cable : if the speed increases immediately (on the same charger/power bank), the old cable was the bottleneck.
  3. Test another port on the power bank/charger: sometimes only one port is “master” high speed (100–240W).
  4. Reduce the length : replace 2 m with 1 m → if the load stabilizes higher, it was a voltage drop .
  5. Use a USB-C power meter : real-time measurement (V/A/W). If it peaks at 20V×3A ≈ 60W despite a 100W charger, your cable is not advertising 5A.
  6. On Samsung 45W : no “Super Fast 2.0” indication? Check the cable (5A e-marker) before blaming the power bank.

9) Buying advice & LymobileShop packs

At LymobileShop , we classify our cables by use to avoid mistakes:

  • USB-C 60W (3A) : smartphones (iPhone/Android), lightweight tablets, 20–30W power banks. Urban bestseller .
  • USB-C 100W (5A e-marker) : Android PPS, powerful tablets, consoles, laptops 65–100W. Versatile go-to .
  • USB-C 240W (EPR 5A) : PD 3.1 140W laptops, demanding USB-C stations/screens, total “future-proof”.
  • USB4/40Gb/s 240W : if you also do high-speed video/data (eGPU/NVMe SSD) and want full power.

Recommended LymobileShop packs :

Take action with LymobileShop: discover our certified USB-C cables (60–240W), our PD/PPS power banks and our PD 30–140W chargers for a bottleneck-free ecosystem.

LymobileShop FAQ

Is a 60W cable enough for my smartphone?

Yes, in 99% of cases (iPhone/Android). If your Android targets 45W PPS (e.g. some Samsungs), use a 5A e-marker cable to avoid throttling.

I have a 140W charger, but my cable says 100W. Does it work?

It will run… at 100W max . To reach 140W, you need an EPR 5A 240W cable and a PD 3.1 compatible device.

Does a USB4/Thunderbolt cable charge better?

Not "better", but it can advertise 5A and therefore allow 100-240W if it is designed for it. Its main advantage is the data rate (up to 40 Gb/s and more depending on generation).

How do I know if my cable has an e-marker?

Check the product sheet/box (mentions “5A”, “100/140/240W”, “USB4/TB”). Otherwise, test with a power meter: if the chain remains stuck at 3A (≈60W) while your charger/device accepts more, your cable is probably not e-marked.

USB-A → Fast USB-C, is it possible?

You can charge properly at 5V (and sometimes 9/12V via proprietary protocols), but universal fast/strong PD charging requires USB-C ↔ USB-C .

Does the length of the cable really make a difference?

Yes. The longer it is, the greater the voltage drop, especially at high currents. For 65–140W, stay at 1–1.5m if possible and choose a 5A cable with a good gauge.

LymobileShop Conclusion : Choose your cable like your charger — based on the actual power you need. Golden rule: iPhone → 60W , Android PPS/Consoles → 100W 5A , Laptop 140W → 240W EPR . And if you also want high-end data speeds, aim for a USB4/240W to cover the present and future.

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