240W USB-C cables get new logos to help you find them

Although people got excited when the power of USB-C go out more than doubled from 100 watts to 240 watts earlier this year, there was still a big problem to be solved: How could consumers distinguish these new USB-C cables from the old ones?

Thursday the Usb EnforceToForum, or USB-IF, the association behind the USB protocol, tried to fix the cable problem by unveiling a slew of new certification logos that manufacturers can stick on their USB-C cables and packaging. The new rated power the logos, which you can see below, will clearly identify when a USB-C cable supports 240W charging.

USB-IF announced the new 240W power transfer limit in May. The move was well received, because that meant that USB Power Delivery would now be able to charge all but the heaviest laptops, eliminating the need for a proprietary power adapter.

In addition, USB-IF has also released new logos for the USB4 power supply, which offers data transfer speeds of 40 Gbps through a USB-C connector, as well as logos for the combined USB4 and 240W cables.

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“Certified USB solutions ensure interoperability and backward compatibility in the marketplace, and USB-IF reminds consumers to buy certified products from trusted sources that display the USB-IF certified logos on the packaging, product sheets or on the label. ‘device, charger and cable itself,’ the nonprofit said in a Press release.

While well-intentioned, the new USB-IF logos still don’t entirely resolve the confusion around the new 240W USB-C charging cables and USB4, although they are useful. As pointed out the edge, the charging and data transfer standards are unrelated. That means you could get a 240W charger that transfers files slowly, or vice versa.

In addition, this decision encourages manufacturers responsible for including the new logos on the cables. Will they do it? I’m sure some might, but some might not, which will inevitably cause more than one user to wonder if they’ve bought something broken when their devices aren’t loading and their files aren’t. not transferred as expected.