Free Mac app reveals USB-C cable performance

Nearly three years ago, I showed you an awesome $8 cable tester that quickly tells you if your USB-C cable is likely fast, slow, powerful, or weak. Sadly, that gadget got discontinued, and I've never found anything as intuitive or inexpensive since. But if you've got a Mac with Apple Silicon chips, you can simply download an even more impressive tester for free.

It's called WhatCable, and it works by reading the data your Mac already collects about attached USB devices, data that Apple doesn't normally pass along to you. Just click a little widget that lives in the menu bar atop your Mac, and you can see every USB-C cable and device attached. The app provides users with valuable information about their USB-C cables.

WhatCable's functionality is made possible by Apple's Silicon chips, which enable the app to access data that would otherwise be unavailable. The developer of WhatCable has made the app freely available to Mac users with Apple Silicon chips. Why this matters: The availability of WhatCable has significant implications for the tech industry.

With the proliferation of USB-C devices, the performance and capabilities of cables have become increasingly important. This app empowers consumers to make informed purchasing decisions and avoid buying underperforming cables. For developers, WhatCable demonstrates the potential for creative applications that leverage existing hardware capabilities.

Businesses that rely on USB-C devices will also benefit from the app's ability to diagnose cable performance issues. As the tech industry continues to adopt USB-C as a standard, tools like WhatCable will play a crucial role in ensuring seamless compatibility and performance. One open question is whether similar apps will emerge for non-Apple Silicon Macs or other operating systems, and how WhatCable's functionality might evolve in response to user feedback and emerging technologies.