Active Cable
Physical & ConstructionA cable with built-in signal boosting electronics, enabling longer runs at full speed.
Passive USB4 cables are limited to ~0.8m for 40 Gbps. Active cables embed retimer or repeater chips to maintain signal integrity over 2-5 meters. They cost more and are directional — the host end and device end are marked. Essential for long Thunderbolt or HDMI 2.1 runs.