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WhatCable
Hidden Gem

Curated by Surfaced Editorial·Developer·2 min read
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WhatCable is a minimalist menu bar application for macOS that provides detailed information about your connected USB-C cables. It helps users understand the capabilities of their cables, such as supported power delivery (PD) wattage, data transfer speeds (USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, Thunderbolt), and video output capabilities (DisplayPort Alt Mode). This tool is built for developers, tech enthusiasts, or anyone who frequently works with various USB-C peripherals and wants to ensure they are using the optimal cable for their setup.

Why It’s Useful

In a world flooded with USB-C cables, differentiating between a basic charging cable and a high-speed Thunderbolt cable can be difficult. WhatCable cuts through the confusion by offering a quick, at-a-glance view directly from your menu bar, eliminating the need to dig through product manuals or guess based on physical markings. Its focus on clarity and simplicity makes it incredibly valuable for users who need to troubleshoot connectivity issues or simply want to maximize the performance of their peripherals. Power users appreciate its unobtrusive nature and the immediate insight it provides into their hardware.

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