Charging cable

[pcslookout]

Should I buy direct from apple or is it ok to buy from Amazon or monoprice ?

 

[Eug]

A few things:

1) It depends on what charging cable you are talking about. If you're talking about an iPhone Lightning cable, then it's very important to get the right Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod cable.

2) If it's not Made For iPhone, then don't buy it. The knockoffs don't have the proper chip and may be poorly designed. They often don't work properly, but even if they do, they are usually poorly constructed.

3) If you get a Made For iPhone cable, you can get them from Amazon or Monoprice, but you have to pay attention to the details to make sure you get a legit one.

4) Although the Amazon or Monoprice Made For iPhone cables work fine, and generally are decently constructed, their collar dimensions are different. This is not a problem for a bare iPhone, but it's a problem sometimes if you have the iPhone in a case. The OEM Apple iPhone Lightning cable has a very small collar. Therefore, many case makers make their cases with only a small hole to fit the Apple cable. If you buy a third party cable with a bigger collar, it may not fit through that hole in the case. It gets real old fast having to remove your iPhone case just to charge the iPhone.

For example, look at this Amazon Basics Lightning cable's collar compared to the OEM Apple one:

Most of the Monoprice Lightning cable collars are relatively small, but they're still a bit bigger than Apple's. It worked with most cases, although not 100% of them. OTOH, the Monoprice Lightning car charger had a ginormous cable collar, which meant it didn't work with many cases. That Amazon Basics cable wouldn't work with a lot of cases either.

Yes, buying a Lightning cable is way more complicated than it should be.

OTOH, it's considerably easier buying one of those old 30-pin charging cables.

 

[pcslookout]

A few things:

1) It depends on what charging cable you are talking about. If you're talking about an iPhone Lightning cable, then it's very important to get the right Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod cable.

2) If it's not Made For iPhone, then don't buy it. The knockoffs don't have the proper chip and may be poorly designed. They often don't work properly, but even if they do, they are usually poorly constructed.

3) If you get a Made For iPhone cable, you can get them from Amazon or Monoprice, but you have to pay attention to the details to make sure you get a legit one.

4) Although the Amazon or Monoprice Made For iPhone cables work fine, and generally are decently constructed, their collar dimensions are different. This is not a problem for a bare iPhone, but it's a problem sometimes if you have the iPhone in a case. The OEM Apple iPhone Lightning cable has a very small collar. Therefore, many case makers make their cases with only a small hole to fit the Apple cable. If you buy a third party cable with a bigger collar, it may not fit through that hole in the case. It gets real old fast having to remove your iPhone case just to charge the iPhone.

For example, look at this Amazon Basics Lightning cable's collar compared to the OEM Apple one:

Thanks.

So why do all the Apple Lightning to USB Cable have poor reviews on apple.com ?


Here is one example. http://www.apple.com/shop/product/ME291AM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable?fnode=91

 

[TheStu]

Thanks.

So why do all the Apple Lightning to USB Cable have poor reviews on apple.com ?


Here is one example. http://www.apple.com/shop/product/ME291AM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable?fnode=91

I mean, Apple's cables are definitely not the sturdiest but... I still have the Lightning cable that came with my iPhone 5, and use it to this day. If you use the phone plugged in a lot (so you're constantly twisting and kinking the cable), you'll ruin it. And I see a ton of people that use their phones that way.

Everything Eug said is pretty on the nose. The monoprice prestige series (i think that's what it's called) has Apple sized collars (so very small).

 

[pcslookout]

Thank you!

I would of never known this if Eug didn't say. So I thank you for that!

 

[JAG87]

Because idiots like to feed their cables to their dogs, step on them, snag them, wrap them tightly around their devices, and then complain that they are not durable.

I always buy Apple cables, the few extra dollars are not worth me sorting through reviews and trying to figure out if they are good or not.

 

[pcslookout]

Because idiots like to feed their cables to their dogs, step on them, snag them, wrap them tightly around their devices, and then complain that they are not durable.

I always buy Apple cables, the few extra dollars are not worth me sorting through reviews and trying to figure out if they are good or not.

Is apple.com the only place to buy real apple cables ?

 

[rsutoratosu]

i have a lot of monoprice cable that failed or fall apart.. they have flat ones i like but never held up.

I use anker kelvar ones now.. you'll find the 3ft on sale for 8 bucks on amazon.. even the 10ft one for like 10-12 on sale through amazon.

so far no failure and they give 18 months warranty. Fits most cases. 0 problems so far

 

[JAG87]

Is apple.com the only place to buy real apple cables ?

No, there are plenty of places that carry genuine Apple accessories. Best Buy, Staples, and so on.

 

[nickbits]

i have a lot of monoprice cable that failed or fall apart.. they have flat ones i like but never held up.

I use anker kelvar ones now.. you'll find the 3ft on sale for 8 bucks on amazon.. even the 10ft one for like 10-12 on sale through amazon.

so far no failure and they give 18 months warranty. Fits most cases. 0 problems so far

Monoprice cables have a lifetime warranty. They will mail you a new one for free.

 

[Subyman]

I always get the Apple brand cables. They've been great. If you need something weird like a really long one then I guess you could get one of the licensed (MFi) cables, but don't buy the trash.

 

[Tyranicus]

I have used several different certified MFi cables over the years, and they have all stopped working eventually. I don't think that has ever happened with Apple's cables for me.

 

[nerp]

The amazon cables are fine. I bought one and it has a small collar, just like the apple cables, not big like in the above pic.

I would also have faith in Anker cables. Their products tend to be on the mark.

 

[winsontay]

Don't buy from anywhere except from Apple. The ones selling out there sucks. Takes a long time to charge. Nothing beats the original.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I've had good luck with the amazon cables. They actually look and feel considerably sturdier than the apple ones. I just got lucky in my choice of phone cases I guess since they all had openings big enough to accommodate the amazon cables.

 

[rsutoratosu]

Well I trust the anker ones... cheaper than apple and I use a bunch of the 10ft ones as well.. 'kelvar' lined with 18month warranty, 6 more than apple.

Their service dept is outstanding. Yes everyone will get bad cables once.. nothing is bulletproof

 

[Artdeco]

Amazon and Monoprice are fine, I've had quite a few no name generic cables die on me after about a year, so stay away from the el cheapo cables.