While there are new printers that work wirelessly, most printers still use a cable system for printing. Cables are fast and reliable and don’t incur any sort of information loss whatsoever. Sure enough, they might be a bit clunky, but when it comes to professional use, the cable is still the first choice.
Now there are a lot of cable brands out there that claim to make the best printer cable. But how much of that is true? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about printer cables. We’ll also inform you what to look for when buying one and recommend our favorite cable.
Editor’s Topic: Printer Cable
Best Printer Cable- Buying Guide
1. Amazon Basics USB 2.0 Printer Cable
The first one on the list is the Amazon Basics Printer Cable. This proprietary cable is sold by Amazon themselves. As a result, you can be assured about the quality. The cable comes in a pack of 1 or 24 cables depending on personal or office use. The length also varies between two options, either 6 feet or 16 feet. The long cable allows for the printer and the PC to not be in the same room.
Special Features
Seamless Connection
The quality component and material used in the cable allow for a seamless connection with different ports. The cable head comes with its own locking indentations which help the cable to stay secured and snap-on place.
Gold Plated Connectors
The connectors of this cable are plated with gold. Gold is a superior electronic conductor. One of the common issues with any connector is interference and signal loss. The anti-corrosion material combined with gold makes the connectors resistant to interference and ensures optimal signal transfer.
Fast Speed
The connectors are standard USB 2.0. It allows for a superior and fast speed, unlike other USBs. The cable can transfer signals at a speed of 480 Mbps.
Specifications
- Cable Length: 6 ft or 16 ft
- Material: Anti-corrosive and gold-plated metal
- Connector Type: USB 2.0
Pros
- Different length options
- High-speed transfer
- Durable build
Cons
- Has a tendency of sliding out if not attached properly and securely
2. UGREEN USB 2.0 Printer Cable
The next one on our list is from Ugreen. Their USB 2.0 printer cable splitter has a wide range of compatibility as per the choice of the user. The cable itself comes in three length configurations. You have the option of 5 ft, 10 ft, or even 15 ft. In addition to that, the cable has several distinct features that set it apart from the rest.
Special Features
Premium Material
The internal fiber is covered with braid and foil coating. This helps to ensure that the cable will remain protected against any form of short circuit or signal loss. Coupling this with anti-corrosion coating and gold plating makes the cable even more durable and functional.
Multiple Usage
The snap-on cables make it easier for all sorts of different connections. Ideally, this cable works perfectly with all standard printers. In addition to printers, it works perfectly fine with the camera, scanner, hard drive, and many other electronic items that use the same port style.
Transmission Speed
The gold plating offers a significant data retention capability compared to other standard coatings. The USB B with its 2.0 technology allows up to 480 Mbps of data transfer. It is also backward compatible with USB 1.0 and 1.1, which are significantly less fast. But the main selling point here is the lossless data transfer.
Specifications
- Cable Length: 5 ft, 10 ft, 15 ft
- Material: Anti-corrosive material with braiding for shield.
- Connector Type: USB type B with 2.0 technology
Pros
- High-quality materials
- Durable joints
- Wide compatibility
Cons:
- The fitting may not be as sturdy on some older models of printers.
3. JSAUX 6.6FT USB Printer Cord
Jsaux is another well-known brand for electrical appliances. The company has a range of cable solutions for all kinds of connectivity needs. The 6.6 ft USB printer cord, as the name suggests, is a perfect choice considering its design and functionality.
Special Features
Durable Design
At the heart of the cable, the transmitter is covered with foil for lossless transmission. But Jsaux went the extra mile with this one and used nylon braiding for the exterior as well. This provides superior protection and a tangle-free experience.
Better Weather Resistant
Granted, you will not take your printer out on extreme heat or rain. But what about the cold or hot temperature within the home? The braiding along with foil insulation ensures that your cable will remain in good condition for a long time to come.
High Transfer Speed
This is the story of every product we have here today. The Jsaux cable also has a superior transfer speed thanks to its USB 2.0, which can transfer at a speed of up to 480 Mbps. And to add to that, the cable is also backward compatible with previous generations.
Specifications
- Cable Length: 6.6 ft and 10 ft
- Material: High-quality anti-corrosive material
- Connector Type: USB Type B
Pros
- Strong build quality.
- Three different color options.
- Anti-tangle mechanism.
Cons
- The edge of the cable heads is a bit sharp to the touch.
4. Akoada USB 2.0 Printer Cable
Anyone familiar with micro techs like cables and wires has had heard the name Akoada. This is a US-based company which has been in the market for quite a while now. And today, we’re here to talk about their USB 2.0 printer cable. There are a few key features of this cable that sets it apart from the rest.
Special Features
Core Engineering
The main aim of a printer cable is to ensure there is lossless data transfer between the PC and the printer. Having this core idea in mind, Akoada decided to refine the existing technology. They increased the number of core copper wires and foil shielded each layer. Thanks to the USB 2.0 technology, the same 480 Mbps speed is achieved. Except the data transfer is more secured now.
Reinforced Joints
The problem with most printer cables is that the cable remains alright, but the joints break. The company uses what it calls the armor nylon to make sure that the cable can withstand up to 20,000 plus bending and deformation before giving up.
Compatibility
The cable is compatible with a wide range of printers. Plus, it has a simple plug-and-play mechanism, so there’s no need to install external drivers.
Specifications
- Cable Length: 6.6 ft and 15 ft
- Material: High-quality Gold-Plated material with armor nylon shielding.
- Connector type: USB 2.0
Pros
- Superior engineering for lossless transfer
- Reinforced joints
- Anti-corrosive material
Cons
- The gold plating isn’t very thick.
5. JSAUX Printer Cable
This printer cable is a more colorful variant of an already mentioned cable above. This cable from Jsaux is another testament to their commitment to quality assurance to their consumers.
Special Features
Reinforced Braiding
The USB cable itself is completely braided with anti-tangle nylons. These high-grade fibers do an excellent job of making sure that the cable does not get tangled or bent while in use. It allows for a better and more secure data transfer.
Reinforced Joints
What sets this Jasaux cable apart are the reinforced joints on both the USB ends. It’s almost an inch long reinforcement which ensures that the cable head doesn’t wobble or bend in any way.
Gold Plating and Corrosion Resistance
The cable comes with its own distinct gold plating on top of the anti-corrosion material. It makes the cable long-lasting and durable all the while not compromising on the data transfer capabilities.
Specifications
- Cable Length: 6 ft and 10 ft
- Material: High-quality anti-corrosive material
- Connector Type: USB 2.0
Pros
- Vibrant color
- Anti-tangling technology
- Reinforced joints
Cons
- Thin gold plating
Best Printer Cable Buying Guide
There you have it, our pick of the 5 best printer cables out in the market. But are these the only best ones? Of course not. A simple google will reveal thousands and thousands of options. So how do you choose the right printer cable for yourself? Here’s a handy buying guide.
Outer Material
The first thing you should look for in a cable is the outer material. This basically decides how long a cable will last. Some cables have reinforced braiding, and there are some with simple rubber coating. However, not all rubber coating is bad as some of them use proprietary technology to ensure technology. To sum things up, go for thick cables if you want something that will last you a long time.
Copper Quality
There is no way for you to check for the copper quality other than the information that comes with the box. We suggest you go for cables that use pure copper materials. That pure material will aid in the lossless data transfer process.
Cable Length
This is something everyone knows and should be aware of. Depending on your use case scenario, the printer may be right beside your computer or not in the same room at all. However, most of the leading cables come with several length options. Make sure which one works the best for your setup and choose accordingly.
Joint Strength
This is something most people tend to skip. But the most vulnerable part of a printer cable is not the cable itself. Rather it is the connector joints. Most cables come with some sort of reinforced joints. The reinforcements ensure that the connector ends won’t be affected even if the cable wobbles. It may not look like much. But when it comes to cable longevity.
Cable Plating
The cables we have mentioned here are all plated with gold on a layer of anti-corrosive material. Now you might be thinking, why is that? Gold is a superior conductor. The sole purpose of using gold is to make sure there isn’t any data loss when making a transmission.
The anti-corrosive elements help to make sure that no matter how many times you push or pull out the cable connector, they won’t corrode over time. This is important considering a printer cable goes through a rigorous use case scenario.
How to Connect Printer Cable in Computer
There was a time when printers used to have all sorts of different connection options. So much so that it seemed like every printer connected in a different way. However, those days are long gone, and almost all modern printers use the standard USB type B system.
This allows for a seamless transition between devices and also brings about uniformity in all the printer lineup.
To get started with connecting the printer to the computer, there are a few things you should take care of first. The first is to download the necessary printer driver and the cable drivers on your computer. Just simply search by the name and model of your printer, and the cable and the driver should appear right away. Without the drivers, the computer will refuse to connect with both the cable and the printer itself.
After that, simply follow the below-mentioned steps
- Turn off the printer first.
- Connect the printer end of the cable with the printer.
- Connect the USB Type B end with any of the type B ports of your computer.
- Turn on the printer.
- It should be ready to print some papers.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Printer Cable
What type of cable is used for printers?
Answer: Printers across brands use a standardized cable system to connect and print. USB Type B is the only type of cable used for this purpose. There are different versions of it, with 2.0 being the latest and fastest one.
Are all printer cables the same?
Answer: No, not all printer cables are the same. They differ in quality and material. But the most common difference is the technology which differs significantly from brand to brand.
Which brand of printer cable is the best?
Answer: There is no definitive answer for this. There are a lot of brands out there that offer incredible quality. Some of them are Amazon Basic, Ugreen, Jsaux, etc.
How do I use a USB printer cable?
Answer: The use of a USB printer cable is pretty straightforward. It is mainly plug-and-play type. Follow the detailed instruction on how to use the USB printer above.
Do you need a USB cable to connect a wireless printer?
Answer: No, you do not need a USB cable to connect a wireless printer. A wireless printer works via a Wi-Fi connection. But there are chances of data loss through wireless printers. So, it is better to use cables for optimum performance.
What type of USB cable does a Canon printer use?
Answer: Almost all types of printers use the standard USB cable, a USB Type B cable. Canon also uses the same. Depending on the model, Canon uses either USB 2.0 or 1.1.
Conclusion
That concludes our take on the best printer cable out in the market. There are many USB cables available that can get the job done. But the ones mentioned above are tried and tested products that are guaranteed to last for a long time and offer a good value for money.
There is also an included buying guide in case you’re looking to go on your own. We hope that this article helps you to understand the different types of USB printer cables and make informed purchasing decisions.