Apple does not include a Thunderbolt 5 cable with its latest MacBook Pro, but Anker’s 240W alternative is currently available for about £38.
Anyone buying a new MacBook Pro and planning to make use of Thunderbolt 5 should factor in one additional purchase: a compatible cable. Apple does not include one in the box, and that leaves buyers choosing between Apple’s own £69 option and alternatives from third-party makers. Macworld highlighted one of the more aggressive bargains in the market, pointing to an Anker Thunderbolt 5 cable discounted to about £38 from a list price close to £46.
According to Anker’s product information, the Prime Thunderbolt 5 Cable is designed for the bandwidth and power demands of the latest high-end laptops and accessories. The company says it supports data transfers of up to 80Gbps, enough to move a 5GB file in about a second under ideal conditions, while also handling up to 240W of USB-C charging. In practical terms, that means a 16-inch MacBook Pro can be charged to 50 per cent in under 30 minutes, according to Anker.
The cable is also intended for users running external displays and fast peripherals. Anker says it supports dual 8K displays at 60Hz and bandwidth of up to 120Gbps for demanding workflows, while Notebookcheck reported that the cable launched in 1.7ft and 3.3ft lengths with a braided design for added durability. The same reports note that it remains backwards-compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C devices, though users will only see the full Thunderbolt 5 performance on matching hardware. Best Buy and other retail listings place the cable at $45.99, with the current discount bringing it into sharper focus for buyers trying to future-proof a new Mac setup.
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