Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable
Anti-theft measures are an essential aspect of any retail store, particularly for electronic devices that are high in value. For Apple, its devices are always in demand, and as a result, the company has developed many anti-theft measures to prevent products from being stolen. One of these measures is the Apple anti-theft cable, which looks like an ordinary USB-C cable, but serves a more important purpose. It's a simple yet effective way to keep Apple devices safe and secure, and in today's article, we're going to explore the specifics of this special cable.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310200345.png)
The length is about 2m (6.5 ft).
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310200693.png)
And the diameter is 3.08mm (0.12 inches).
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310200839.png)
Surprisingly, both USB-C connectors adopt a “full-pin” design.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310200966.png)
And our ChargerLAB POWER-Z KM002C shows it’s not equipped with an E-marker chip, which means the charging power won’t exceed 60W.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310201117.png)
If we look closer at the junction, we find the junction is much wider than ordinary cable.
Cause it has an additional anti-theft cable next to the charging cable.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310201394.png)
It was cut off before we got it, so we took another cable for example.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310204092.png)
This end is pretty like the ethernet cable connector, which is connected to the table in the retail store.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310204021.png)
And the other end is attached to the device with a 3M sticker, such as iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc. Once disconnected, the alarm system can be triggered directly.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310204139.png)
As for charging performance, we use it to charge several devices. The maximum current is limited to 3A, so even if the voltage can reach 20V, the power cannot exceed 60W.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310204148.png)
Since the writing and reading speed is only about 35MB/s, which is USB2.0, so it’s only used for charging and anti-theft, not video transmission.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310203931.png)
Next, let’s do a voltage drop test to check the voltage difference between the input and output. Here is the result.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310203866.png)
The largest difference we found was 0.79V at 5V3A and 12V3A, and the smallest difference was 0.25V at 9V1A and 20V1A. The differences of 3A was between 0.76-0.79V, and the differences of 1A was between 0.25V-0.27V. The higher the current, the higher the voltage difference.
![Review of Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023040310204127.png)
While this is not the only Apple anti-theft cable, it's certainly one to be aware of. For example, the iPhone needs a USB-C to lightning anti-theft cable, and MagSafe wireless charging will be another anti-theft cable. Some high-power devices, like the 16-inch MacBook Pro, will need a 140W cable.
Related Articles:
1. How Lightning Cable Works? | Brief Introduction of Lightning Connector
2. Teardown of Apple Woven USB-C to Lightning Cable (1 m)
3. Quick Peek | Apple Stores Anti-Theft USB-C Cable