UGREEN USB 4.0 40Gbps Cable Review: Full-Speed 240W Charging and Data

Introduction

As USB 4 matures into the mainstream connectivity standard, UGREEN’s USB 4.0 40Gbps data cable has emerged as one of the most affordable full-speed options from the Chinese ecosystem. Priced at just ¥79 ($11) on JD.com for the 0.8m version, it promises the same 40Gbps throughput and 240W Extended Power Range (EPR) charging as premium cables costing 3–4× more. On Tmall, the 1.2m version sells for ¥89 ($12.50), and the 2m version for ¥109 ($15). At this price point, it directly competes with Anker’s USB 4 cable (¥199/$28) and Cable Matters’ equivalent (¥159/~$22).

Specifications

Spec	UGREEN USB 4.0 40Gbps	Anker USB 4 Cable	Cable Matters USB 4
Price (1m)	¥79 (~$11)	¥199 (~$28)	¥159 (~$22)
Data Speed	40Gbps	40Gbps	40Gbps
Charging	240W (48V/5A EPR)	240W (48V/5A EPR)	100W
Video Alt Mode	DP 1.4, 8K@60Hz	DP 1.4, 8K@60Hz	DP 1.4, 8K@30Hz
Cable Length	0.8m / 1.2m / 2m	0.9m	1m / 2m
Chipset	E-Marker + Intel retimer	E-Marker + TI retimer	E-Marker only
Cable Type	Braided nylon	Braided nylon	Silicone
Warranty	18 months	24 months	12 months

Design and Build Quality

UGREEN’s USB 4 cable uses a tightly woven nylon braided exterior with aluminum alloy connector housings featuring a diamond-cut pattern. The braid density is noticeably tighter than their standard USB-C cables — a 50% increase in strand count per the manufacturer — which gives it a premium feel closer to UGREEN’s Thunderbolt 4 cables. The connector housing measures 12.5mm × 7mm × 24mm, which is compact enough to fit through most laptop bag cable ports without snagging.

A built-in E-Marker chip with Toshiba TC7USB40MU retimer ensures full USB 4 bandwidth compliance. Notably, UGREEN uses a slightly thicker 28AWG power wire paired with 32AWG data lines (versus the standard 30+32AWG in Thunderbolt 4 cables), allowing the cable to handle the 5A current required for 240W EPR charging without excessive voltage drop.

Performance Testing

In real-world CrystalDiskMark testing on a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 with a UGREEN USB 4 NVMe enclosure, sequential read speeds hit 3,412 MB/s and write speeds reached 3,108 MB/s — within 95% of the enclosure’s rated 3,500 MB/s limit. Compared to a standard USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps cable, this represents a genuine doubling of throughput.

Charging tests with an Anker Prime 276W power bank delivering 140W PD 3.1 showed stable 28V/5A power delivery with less than 0.15V voltage drop over the 1.2m length. At 240W EPR (48V/5A), the cable maintained stable voltage within USB-IF tolerance.

One limitation: when used at its maximum 2m length, the cable displayed occasional signal degradation at 40Gbps on certain hosts — a recognized engineering challenge for passive USB 4 cables beyond 1m. UGREEN’s 2m version still works at 40Gbps with high-end hosts but may drop to 20Gbps on less capable USB 4 controllers.

What Chinese Users Say

“Tested with a CrystalDiskMark — reads 3.3GB/s on a UGREEN enclosure. Works perfectly with my MacBook Pro M4 for both charging and data. This is the best ~80 yuan cable I’ve ever bought.” — JD.com user

“Used it for 4K 144Hz monitor connection via USB-C to DP alt mode. Supports full 144Hz with no flickering at all. Cable build quality impressed me for the price.” — Taobao user

“Bought the 2m version and it’s hit-or-miss at 40Gbps on my desktop (ASUS Z790 board). Sometimes drops to 20Gbps. The 0.8m version works flawlessly though. Something to keep in mind for long runs.” — SMZDM user

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Full USB 4 40Gbps certified at a budget-friendly ¥79 price point — 60% cheaper than Anker equivalent
2. Supports 240W EPR charging, future-proofing for next-gen laptops and power banks
3. Braided nylon jacket with aluminum housing outlasts standard PVC cables
4. Includes E-Marker chip and retimer for signal integrity at 1m lengths
5. DP Alt Mode supports 8K@60Hz or 4K@144Hz displays

Cons

1. 2m version has inconsistent 40Gbps stability — may drop to 20Gbps on some hosts
2. Lacks Thunderbolt 5 certification (80Gbps), limiting next-gen compatibility
3. 0.8m length is too short for desktop use; 1.2m would be ideal but sold separately
4. No Velcro tie included in packaging, unlike Anker’s bundled solution
5. Warranty is only 18 months versus Anker’s 24 months

vs Competitors

Metric	UGREEN USB 4	Anker USB 4	Cable Matters USB 4
Max Data	40Gbps	40Gbps	40Gbps
Max Power	240W (EPR)	240W (EPR)	100W
Video	8K@60Hz	8K@60Hz	8K@30Hz
Price/1m	¥79 (~$11)	¥199 (~$28)	¥159 (~$22)
Lengths	0.8/1.2/2m	0.9m only	1/2m only
Chipset	Toshiba retimer	TI retimer	E-Marker only
Warranty	18 months	24 months	12 months

The UGREEN cable beats both competitors on price while matching Anker’s full power delivery spec. The main sacrifice is the shorter warranty and the 2m length reliability concern. For desktop users who need 2m runs, Cable Matters’ 2m version is more reliable at that length, but it only supports 100W charging.

FAQ

Q1: Does this cable support Thunderbolt 4 / Thunderbolt 5? It is USB 4 certified, which means it is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps). However, it does NOT support Thunderbolt 5’s 80Gbps mode — for that you need an actively certified TB5 cable.

Q2: Can I use this cable for eGPU? Yes, USB 4’s 40Gbps is sufficient for most eGPU configurations. Expect roughly 85–90% of internal GPU performance, comparable to Thunderbolt 4 eGPU setups. PCIe tunneling is supported through Intel USB 4 controllers.

Q3: Is the 240W EPR charging safe for my phone? Yes. EPR charging requires negotiation between charger and device. When connected to a phone that only supports 20W PD, the cable simply delivers 9V/2.22A as negotiated — no extra power is forced.

Q4: Why does my 2m cable drop to 20Gbps? Passive USB 4 cables longer than 1m face signal integrity challenges. The UGREEN 2m lacks an active signal booster, so it relies on host-side driver compensation. For guaranteed 40Gbps at 2m, consider an active USB 4 cable.

Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip

Buy this if: You need full USB 4 40Gbps speeds and 240W EPR charging without spending ¥199+ on premium brands. Perfect for connecting a USB 4 SSD enclosure to a recent laptop, or as a universal laptop charging + data cable. Best value at the 0.8m or 1.2m length.

Skip this if: Your desktop setup demands a 2m+ run at full 40Gbps all the time, or you’re building a Thunderbolt 5 ecosystem and want 80Gbps readiness. Also skip if you need guaranteed Thunderbolt certification for professional workflows.

Rating

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (8.0/10)

• Data Speed: 8.5/10 — full 40Gbps at ideal lengths
• Build Quality: 8.0/10 — sturdy braided nylon, premium connectors
• Charging: 9.5/10 — full 240W EPR support
• Value: 9.5/10 — best price/performance ratio in its class
• Length Options: 7.0/10 — 2m stability issue holds it back