Which of your old cables are actually worth keeping?

We're pretty sure you have some cables in that drawer somewhere that are worth keeping, too.

USB-C is here to stay and it's become the universal standard for data transfers and fast charging. The only reason you should be recycling any of these is to upgrade to speedier versions. You should also hold on to USB-A to B cables since those are commonly used in printers.

Even though mini-USB cables are not as popular today as they used to be, there are still devices that need them to charge, including microphones, cameras and hard drives. Micro-USB cables are in the same situation — they're both worth keeping at least one of each.

Apple may have moved away from Lightning cables, but if you're still using a phone older than the iPhone 15, you'll still need it. Even if you've upgraded, having at least one Lightning cable in there may prove useful if any of your friends visit and require one for a quick charge.

HDMI 2.1 cables belong in that cable drawer. With up to 48 Gbps of bandwidth, you can enjoy 4K content at 144Hz and 8K at 30Hz. They're perfect for connecting your gaming consoles to your TV.

DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort are also worth keeping. They go with computer monitors, some TVs and laptops. While not as popular as HDMI, they are still used frequently and should definitely remain in your cable drawer.

Component video cables are worth keeping if you're still using that specific device. The cables that came with the PlayStation 2, the original Xbox or Wii, for instance, are great to keep if you're still using the console. If you've long since recycled the device, maybe it's time to let go of the cables too.

Of course, you should also hold onto those 3-prong trapezoid power cords that go with all PCs and a bunch of other devices too.

The bottom line is that not every cable in that drawer is worth keeping, but not every one of them deserves to go either. Take an hour, sort through what you have, test the ones you're unsure about, ask the internet about the ones you don't even recognize and split them into piles. You'll soon have a cable drawer that actually works for you and maybe some extra money in your pocket.