2m USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 USB-C to USB-C Cable, 10Gbps Data, 4K Video, 60W PD, Black

The CableLeader U3106-XXXX is a full-featured USB Type-C male to Type-C male cable built to USB 3.2 Gen 2x1. It moves data at up to 10 Gbps, carries 4K video over DisplayPort Alt Mode, and delivers up to 60W of USB Power Delivery, so one cable covers the three jobs a USB-C port is asked to do. Lengths run from 6in through 2m in black and white.

Type-C is a reversible 24-pin connector, and this cable wires the full set rather than the reduced set used by charging cords. Four 32 AWG twisted pairs carry the SuperSpeed lanes, a fifth pair carries the legacy USB 2.0 signals, the CC line handles Power Delivery negotiation, and the SBU pins are wired through for Alt Mode video. The SuperSpeed lanes are cross-wired between the two plugs, so either end can be inserted either way round.

That wiring is what separates this cable from a USB 2.0 Type-C cable of the same shape. A USB 2.0 C-to-C cable has no SuperSpeed pairs at all: it can still charge at 60W, but it is capped at 480 Mbps and cannot output video. Because the two look identical, a USB 2.0 cable is the most common reason an external SSD reports slow speeds or a USB-C monitor stays dark.

Construction follows the drawing on file. Each SuperSpeed pair carries its own aluminium-mylar foil and drain wire, and the whole bundle is wrapped again in foil, drain and braid, which is what holds a 10 Gbps link stable. VBUS and ground use 24 AWG copper for the 3A Power Delivery path, the cable stock is UL2725 style at 4.5 mm outer diameter, and all materials comply with the RoHS directive.

In practice the three functions are used together. An external NVMe enclosure saturates a 10 Gbps link where USB 2.0 would bottleneck it; a USB-C monitor takes video and returns power to the laptop over the same lead; a dock passes peripherals through while the host charges. The 6in and 0.5m lengths suit an SSD sitting beside a dock or a short run inside an equipment rack, where most competing cables start at 3ft.

The black jacket provides a professional appearance and blends into standard office, rack, and enclosure installations.

Compatibility & Ordering Information — U3106-XXXX works with USB-C laptops, tablets and phones, USB-C monitors and portable displays that accept DisplayPort Alt Mode, external NVMe and SATA enclosures, docking stations, card readers and capture devices, on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPadOS. The family is stocked in 6in, 0.5m (1.6ft), 1m (3.3ft), 1.5m (4.9ft) and 2m (6.6ft), in black and white. Devices needing only charging at 60W can use the USB 2.0 C-to-C family instead. Workloads needing 20 or 40 Gbps and 240W require the USB4 family.

Product Comparison: USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 C-to-C vs USB 2.0 C-to-C Cable

These two cables use the same reversible Type-C plug at both ends and are indistinguishable by eye, but only one of them carries SuperSpeed data and video. This is the single most common cause of an external SSD running slow or a USB-C monitor staying dark. The table shows what actually differs:

Rule of thumb: if the cable will ever touch an external drive or a display, it has to be the USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 version on this page. A USB 2.0 C-to-C cable charges just as fast at 60W, so it remains the sensible choice for a charging-only cord — but no firmware update or driver will make it carry SuperSpeed data or video, because the wires are simply not inside.

FAQ

What is the difference between a USB 2.0 C-to-C cable and a USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 C-to-C cable?

The difference is the SuperSpeed pairs inside. A USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 cable carries four shielded pairs for data and reaches up to 10 Gbps with 4K video support, while a USB 2.0 C-to-C cable has none of them and is capped at 480 Mbps with no video output. Both can charge at 60W and both look identical from the outside, which is why speed complaints usually trace back to the cable.

Can this cable connect a laptop to a USB-C monitor?

Yes, provided both the laptop port and the monitor support DisplayPort Alt Mode. The SBU pins in this cable are wired through, so video, data and up to 60W of power travel over the single lead — the monitor can display the laptop screen and charge it back at the same time. Laptop ports that only support charging and data will not output video regardless of the cable.

Does a 60W USB-C cable need an e-marker chip?

No. USB Power Delivery only requires an e-marker for cables rated above 3A, so a 60W cable operating at 20V/3A does not need one. This cable uses 24 AWG VBUS and ground conductors sized for that 3A path. Cables advertised at 100W or 240W run 5A and do require an e-marker to declare the higher current to the charger.

Which way round does the cable plug in?

Either way, at both ends. The SuperSpeed lanes are cross-wired between the two connectors so the link comes up regardless of plug orientation, and both plugs are physically identical, so there is no host end or device end to identify. Connect one plug to the computer and the other to the display, enclosure or dock in whichever orientation is convenient.

Which USB-C cable is best for an external SSD?

For an external NVMe or SATA enclosure, match the cable to the enclosure rating: a USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 cable at 10 Gbps is the correct choice for most current portable SSDs, and a shorter run holds signal integrity better at that rate. A USB 2.0 C-to-C cable will bottleneck the drive to 480 Mbps, while a USB4 cable only pays off if the enclosure itself is rated at 20 or 40 Gbps.