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Beats charging cables launch at $19 each, with more style than substance
Published onApril 16, 2025
- Beats enters the cable market with $18.99 braided options in USB-C, USB-A, and Lightning.
- Despite modern looks, all cables are limited to USB 2.0 data speeds.
- The main selling point is aesthetic: matching your gear, not outperforming it.
Beats has entered the charging cable market with braided, color-matched options priced at $18.99 each. The catch? You’re mostly paying for the look.
Available in USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C, and USB-C to Lightning, the new Beats cables support up to 60W charging (USB-C) and 15W (USB-A). The Lightning variant offers fast charging for iPhones and iPads, though Beats doesn’t list an exact wattage.
The cables are limited to USB 2.0 data speeds, which top out at 480Mbps—adequate for charging but sluggish for file transfers by today’s standards.
Beats offers cables in 1.5-meter and 20-centimeter lengths, wrapped in a woven exterior to resist tangling. Color choices include Bolt Black, Nitro Navy, Surge Stone, and Rapid Red. However, two-packs are only available in black, and some color variants won’t ship until summer.
The build quality appears solid. But at nearly $20, the price edges into premium territory—without the specs to match. At nearly $20 per cable, there are no enhancements in speed, durability specs, or certifications that competing brands like Anker or Belkin don’t already offer—often at lower prices.
What you’re getting, essentially, is a cable that matches your Beats Pill, logo and all.
Beats, owned by Apple, has been expanding into lifestyle accessories, adding iPhone cases last year and now charging cables. It’s a familiar move: take a standard utility, apply brand polish, and price it at a premium. The strategy makes sense for Apple’s audience, but the value is harder to justify for buyers focused on specs.
The demand for high-speed, high-wattage, and data-capable cables is growing, but this launch isn’t aimed at that segment. Instead, Beats is betting that brand consistency and aesthetic appeal are enough to move products.
If you’d rather your cable deliver more than a matching color scheme, we recommend starting here: Best Charging Cables