The 10 most useful cables I can’t live without in 2026 (and how they make things easier)

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It might be 2026, but cables are still a vital bit of kit. And while USB-C was supposed to simplify everything, cables can still be found in a bewildering array of options. 

While wireless charging is making inroads, I still need and use a lot of cables, and I bet you do, too. I've made it my life's mission to find the best ones out there, so whether you're looking for a cable to charge your laptop, connect your computer to a storage device, or charge devices on the move, I have you covered!

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Here are my top cable picks from a broad range of categories. And just to mix things up a bit, I've added a few of what I consider to be must-have accessories to the list. 

This is a cable that's literally traveled thousands of miles with me. It's small, it's tough, it's a complete 4-in-1 solution, and it handles ultra-fast charging up to 240W, along with Apple's fast charging of up to 27W.

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This cable transforms into the following configurations:

• USB-C to USB-C
• USB-C to Lightning
• USB-A to Lightning
• USB-A to USB-C

I love this cable, but the connectors are a bit on the chunky side and can have problems working with phones that are in thick, ruggedized cases. 

I've tried a lot of "armored" cables that in reality, are anything but. The Galvanox pet-proof USB-C cable, however, has passed every test I've pitted it against -- from running it over with an office chair to trying to cut it with a knife (I drew the line at biting it). 

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The cable looks like a shower hose, and not only does this sheathing prevent it from being chewed, but makes it highly abrasion-resistant, tangle-proof, and resistant to damage from bending. In fact, these Galvanox cables have been tested to withstand a minimum of 20,000 bends. 

The connectors have also been armored, with all the easily chewable polymer replaced with hard, tasteless alloy.  

There are a few companies making short USB-C cables designed to fit onto a keyring, but many of the ones I tested were pricey. So I looked to see if there was a budget option, and that's when I came across the Vafoton PD 240W short USB-C cable.

Review: This $7 cable is secretly the most useful thing in my tech bag

The cable measures 5.1 inches unfolded, is coated in a soft yet durable TPU, and packs away into the keychain adapter neatly. Is this too short? Not for most applications I use it for, but sometimes I did have to put my iPhone into some strange orientations to make it work. 

And while it might be small, it's very capable. It can carry up to 240W of power, data at 40Gbps, and video at 8K 60Hz, and is even compatible with Thunderbolt 4 standards. 

I recently came back from a month of traveling in Europe, and I realized I needed to up my charging cable game in 2026. I needed one cable that could handle my iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. 

Review: This 3-in-1 USB-C cable replaced every other cable in my travel bag - here's why

After a few cables that turned out to be a disappointment -- some were dead-on-arrival, and the others died after a few days of use -- I came across the ChubbyCable Tri-Flex 3-in-1 cable, and this cable is just what I needed.

The ChubbyCable is built like a tank. It's 4.1 feet long and made of a soft, tangle-free, siliconized material that feels more like a high-end audio cable. There are two USB-C ends, one that supports 100W charging and data transfer at 480 Mbps, and another that can handle 12.5W fast charging. There's also a 2.5W Apple Watch charging puck, which is also compatible with AirPods cases that support wireless charging. 

Want a cable that can pack itself away tidily when not in use? This is the cable for you! The Statik MagStack Pro uses the magic power of magnets to curl itself away tidily when not in use. You can make big curls or small curls, the choice is yours. 

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On top of its trick of keeping itself tidy, it can carry up to 100W of power, the connectors are robust and have very good strain relief, and it's nylon braided, so it resists snagging. 

Just note that the cable's maximum speed is 480MB/s, so avoid using it to connect to high-speed storage drives.

This is my go-to cable any time I need to connect a device to a Thunderbolt 4 device. It's a 3.3-foot/1 meter cable that can handle 240W power, up to 40 Gbps data, and 8K video. 

It also features a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) jacket for added flexibility and durability, for under $10.

We're so used to using USB-C for charging that we forget it's also a fully featured data port, and hackers can use people's desperation to find a charger for their phone or laptop to their advantage.

Review: This $15 USB-C cable is the best security investment I've made for my gadgets

While people who only ever charge at home, the office, or car don't need a data-blocking cable, those who regularly charge using communal points at airports, trains, buses, and random charging kiosks will benefit from protection against attacks known as Juice jacking.

These Plugable cables all feature an E-Marker chip and allow charging up to 240W (48V/5A), but because they don't have any data lines, all attempts at communication between the charger and the device being charged are blocked.

This is five-foot/1.5-meter-long USB-C cable is capable of carrying 240W of power with a built-in USB power meter. 

Review: This $15 USB-C cable has a built-in power meter, and I keep finding uses for it

It's totally user-friendly -- you just plug it in at both ends, and the display instantly lights up, providing all the crucial statistics about the power flowing through the cable: voltage, amps, and watts. 

The display even has an arrow showing the direction that the power is flowing in! This is a great touch because I've encountered power meters that have confused me as to what's charging what -- especially where power banks are concerned.

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