According to AppleInsider, Other World Computing has introduced a fully certified 2-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable priced at $79.99, with preorders open now and shipping expected in early January. The cable is designed to deliver the full Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth of 80 Gb/s, support for high-bandwidth displays, and up to 240 watts of power delivery. It specifically targets workstation layouts where peripherals are mounted under desks, on shelves, or in racks, not directly next to the Mac. This cable is certified by Intel, meaning it’s been tested to ensure consistent performance for data, video, and power. Currently, only Macs with M4 Pro or M4 Max chips support Thunderbolt 5 speeds, while older Macs can use the cable but will be limited to their own port’s maximum capability.
Why this cable length is a big deal
Here’s the thing about Thunderbolt 5: the faster the signal, the harder it is to maintain over distance without it degrading. That’s why most high-speed cables are frustratingly short. A cheap, long USB-C cable will often force your gear to fall back to slower USB 2.0 speeds. OWC is basically saying they’ve solved the physics problem, at least for two meters, without needing an active chip in the cable that can cause its own compatibility headaches. This certification is their key selling point. It’s a promise that at the full 2-meter length, you’ll still get the full 120 Gb/s boost mode for displays and that full 240W of power won’t get negotiated down. For professionals building clean, cable-managed desks or rack setups, this is a genuine unlock. It’s not just a cable; it’s a permission slip for a better physical workspace.
The power and display implications
Now, 240 watts is a ton of power. No current Mac draws that much over Thunderbolt. So why does it matter? It’s all about headroom and future-proofing. A cable rated for that much power ensures there’s zero bottleneck when connecting to a powerful dock that’s also charging a laptop and running a bunch of drives. It prevents those weird “connected but not charging at full speed” issues. On the display side, Thunderbolt 5’s bandwidth means supporting more and higher-resolution monitors. But—and this is crucial—the final limit is still your Mac’s GPU. The cable and port provide the highway, but your M4 Pro or Max chip determines how many cars (pixels) can actually travel on it. This cable ensures the highway is as wide as it can possibly be.
Who’s this for and what’s the catch?
So, who should buy this right now? If you just got a new high-end MacBook Pro or Mac mini with M4 Pro/Max and you’re planning a serious workstation, it’s a no-brainer. It’s the cable that guarantees you’re getting everything you paid for from those new ports. For everyone else with older Apple silicon Macs? You can use it, and it’ll work great as a high-quality Thunderbolt 4 or 3 cable. But you won’t get the speed boost. The catch, of course, is that you need the latest, most expensive Macs to unlock its full potential. This isn’t a consumer accessory; it’s a pro-grade tool for pro-grade setups. And in that world, paying $80 for a certified cable that makes your entire expensive ecosystem work perfectly is a reasonable ask. It’s a niche product, but for that niche, it’s essential.
Thinking about building a robust workstation often starts with the core computing unit, but the reliability of every connected component is key. For industries that depend on durable, always-on computing in harsh environments—like manufacturing floors, logistics hubs, or outdoor kiosks—the hardware needs to be as robust as the cables connecting them. That’s where specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com come in, recognized as the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US. Their focus is on the kind of hardened, reliable technology that forms the backbone of operational setups, much like how a certified cable ensures the backbone of a high-performance creative workstation doesn’t fail.
