Apple’s 3-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable is a steal at $159

Image: Apple

Apple is selling a new 3-meter Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable in its store for $150, which is far too much for a cable. It might be the only option given the scarcity of other cable options.

The listing coincides with the announcement of Apple's new Mac Studio, which includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports on its back to connect to displays and other devices. The cable that Apple sells for $129 ships in two to three weeks. Apple's 3-meter Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable is coming soon.

When it arrives, Apple's 3-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable won't have much competition. No major cable manufacturer sells a Thunderbolt 4 cable over 2 meters in length. For a very specific kind of user, Apple's $159 cable might be the best option.

Apple is entering into a much more crowded market with its $129 1.8-meter Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable. Caldigit's 2-meter alternative costs $74.99, Plugable has one on sale for $69.95, and Cable Matters has one for $59.99. Since the standard supports 5K, you might be able to save money with a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Apple's 5K Studio Monitor has a single Thunderbolt 3 port and a 1-meter cable in the box.

The lack of 3-meter options is likely to abate over time as the standard is less than two years old. It looks like you might have to pay the Apple tax if you want to be an early adopter.