Amazon is kicking crappy USB-C cables to the curb

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Amazon is sending a message to the electronics community by banning cheap and unsafe USB-C cables from its platform.

Shitty USB-C cables are no joke. They can literally fry your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. So it’s refreshing to hear that Amazon is banning the sale of “non-compliant” USB-C cables.

Any USB-C™ (or USB Type-C™) cable or adapter product that is not compliant with standard specifications issued by “USB Implementers Forum Inc.”

Don’t worry, they’re not alone in exile. The list includes DVD duplicators, Wi-Fi jammers, shoddy electrical cords, and anything that could pose any danger to a consumer.

According to TechCrunch, this is how it all went down:

This small but important update was spotted by Benson Leung, the Google engineer who has raised awareness of the dangers of faulty cabling after a USB-C destroyed his Pixel. Leung was tasked with testing USB-C cable compatibility with the Pixel and, among many things, he identified a flaw within the OnePlus type C charging cable and has generally championed increased vetting and standards.

Testing USB-C cables is quite difficult, unless you’re an engineer or developer. So, if you’re as clueless as I am, check out Leung’s USB-C reviews on Amazon.

Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com.