Every USB-C port looks the same too. Some are quietly slower

Last time it was the cables lying to you. You binned the mystery leads, bought the certified ones with the speed and watts printed on the side, labelled the survivors. Good. You fixed the drawer.
Now look at the laptop itself, because it is about to play the same trick on you. Two ports, same oval socket, same confident silver moulding. One is fast. One is not. And nothing on the outside tells you which is which.
Open the drawer where you keep your cables. Go on. Somewhere in that tangle are two USB-C cables that look identical, came in similar boxes and feel the same in your hand. One will charge your laptop at full speed and drive a 4K monitor. The other can barely run a mouse.