Monoprice
Monoprice 105456 1.5ft USB 2.0 A to Micro B Cable
★★★★★
USB 2.0
Monoprice's 1.5ft USB 2.0 A to Micro-B cable delivers 100% spec-compliant 480 Mbps connectivity with gold-plated connectors and a ferrite core for clean signal transfer.
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Overview
Key Features
Guarantees 100% compliance with current USB specifications
Gold Plated Connectors for corrosion resistance ensuring consistent and reliable conductivity
Specifications
Length
1.5 feet (approximately 45cm)
Connector Type
USB 2.0 Type-A Male to Micro 5-Pin Male
USB Standard
USB 2.0 (480 Mbps)
Conductor Gauge
28AWG (data) / 24AWG (power)
Contact Material
Gold-Plated
EMI Filter
Ferrite Core
Compliance
100% USB Specification Compliant
Color
Black
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- 28/24AWG conductor gauge (28AWG data, 24AWG power) meets the USB 2.0 specification for simultaneous data and charging, avoiding the voltage drop on power lines that single-gauge cables introduce.
- Gold-plated connectors resist contact oxidation over repeated connect/disconnect cycles, maintaining consistent contact resistance longer than nickel-plated alternatives.
- Ferrite core filters high-frequency EMI from the cable — a practical benefit when running near switching power supplies or dense studio equipment that can otherwise inject noise into USB connections.
- 1.5-foot length is intentionally short, keeping desktop cable runs tidy and eliminating the slack coiling that longer cables require in compact workstation setups.
- 100% USB spec compliance certification means the cable will not cause USB device enumeration errors or fail host controller handshakes that non-compliant cables can trigger.
👎 Cons
- USB 2.0 maximum of 480 Mbps is a hard ceiling — plugging this cable into a USB 3.0 device or port will work at USB 2.0 speeds only; the cable cannot carry USB 3.0 data signals.
- 1.5-foot length is limiting for anything other than immediate desk-surface connections — charging a device from a wall adapter at any distance requires a longer cable.
- Micro-B connector is a legacy standard largely replaced by USB-C on current devices; this cable is limited to older smartphones, some audio interfaces, and Micro-B peripherals that have not transitioned to USB-C.
- The Micro-B connector's mechanical design has a documented fragility issue across the industry — the connector insert on devices experiences wear and damage with frequent plug/unplug cycles faster than USB-C's more robust insertion geometry.
- No right-angle Micro-B option is available in this SKU, which limits use cases where a straight connector creates strain on the device's port (portable devices flat on a surface).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum data transfer rate this cable supports, and is USB 2.0 still adequate for modern devices?
USB 2.0 supports 480 Mbps theoretical bandwidth — adequate for charging smartphones, syncing audio interfaces, transferring documents, and connecting input devices like keyboards and MIDI controllers. It is not sufficient for fast external SSD transfers or USB 3.0 storage devices, which require a USB 3.0/3.1 cable and port to achieve their rated speeds. For the device categories this cable targets (smartphones with Micro-B, older audio gear, small cameras), USB 2.0 remains the native interface.
Why does this cable include a ferrite core, and does it actually affect performance?
The ferrite core (choke) is a passive EMI filter clamped around the cable. It suppresses high-frequency electrical interference that the cable can both emit and receive — relevant in environments with dense RF sources (studio equipment, switching power supplies, close-proximity wireless devices). For audio interfaces and MIDI devices connected near power supplies or LED lighting, the ferrite core reduces the chance of interference coupling into the USB data or power lines.
Are the gold-plated connectors purely cosmetic, or do they provide a measurable benefit on this cable?
Gold plating on the connector contacts provides measurable corrosion resistance over the cable's lifetime — nickel or bare copper contacts oxidize with humidity and repeated connections, increasing contact resistance over time. For a cable with a short fixed installation (connecting a device that stays plugged in), the benefit is marginal. For cables regularly connected and disconnected, gold contacts maintain consistent electrical performance over more cycles.
At 1.5 feet, what use cases is this cable length actually appropriate for?
1.5 feet (approximately 45cm) is designed for desktop use — connecting a device directly to a computer's front or rear USB ports, to a power bank sitting next to the device, or to a USB hub on a desk surface. It is deliberately short to minimize cable clutter in tight setups. It is not appropriate for connecting a device to a wall charger across a nightstand or powering a device positioned more than half a meter from the USB source.
Is this cable compliant with USB specifications for both data and charging simultaneously?
Yes — Monoprice states 100% compliance with current USB specifications. The cable uses 28AWG data conductors and 24AWG power conductors (28/24AWG rating), which is the USB 2.0 specification for cables that must carry both data and charging current without voltage drop that would impair charging rates. The 24AWG power conductors are heavier gauge than data-only cables, supporting higher current delivery.
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