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Cheap Lightning cables?

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saleemyas3

macrumors regular
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Jun 1, 2012
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i heard that apple made it so that they can be the only ones that make lightning cables. They have some sort of authentication chip in them. Is it true? Will i have to seriously hand over $20 per extra cable?
 
as much as i love apple and their products...how is it that people give them a pass for being monopolistic and becoming the new "Monster Cables" to sell overpriced cables?...it seems anti-competitive to me to do this with cables..
 
I've seen some counterfeit Chinese apple knockoffs in the past, some look like they were made at the factory and smuggled out, others look like possible quality control failures that were never destroyed but are only minor defects such as scuffs or in the case of cables a cm or two short or longer than spec. As long as I can get the cable to charge I might go for that just for work since I'm not syncing there.
 
I've always been advised to stay away from cheap knockoffs because they can have adverse effects on the device (especially the battery). I'd gladly buy a cheap one to keep in my car, for charging and iPod functionality over USB, but don't want to do it at the expense of my device or its battery.

Is there any truth to this, or is it just a case of paranoia?
 
Applejuiced said:
Not.
There's already plenty of aftermarket lightning cables and 30 pin to lightning adapters for sale online.
Give it a month of so and there will be tons of them available and prices will drop down to $1-2.
Click to expand...

But the question is, do they work?

I read somewhere that knockoffs might not work.

Does the apple store have them in stock if you were to go to one now.
 
MacChinoNyc said:
But the question is, do they work?

I read somewhere that knockoffs might not work.

Does the apple store have them in stock if you were to go to one now.
Click to expand...

Im sure they work or everyone will have paypal and ebay refund their money.
Like other apple USB cables work and have worked for years now.
I think most Apple store should have them in stock or waiting to arrive.
I'd call before going in cause around this time it will be a mad house there.

Caliber26 said:
I've always been advised to stay away from cheap knockoffs because they can have adverse effects on the device (especially the battery). I'd gladly buy a cheap one to keep in my car, for charging and iPod functionality over USB, but don't want to do it at the expense of my device or its battery.

Is there any truth to this, or is it just a case of paranoia?
Click to expand...

That's what Apple wants you to think.
Their cable will kill your device and battery. Our "official" $30 wire will keep it in top performance and maintain a healthy and prosperous battery life:D
Really? Its just a wire, its not brain surgery. Paranoid much?:D
 
One of the ebay listings said that the cables havent been tested and he doesnt know if it will work or not, so i'd stay away from that. There are others that ship out early october and don't have any mention of it not working, so if it doesnt work you get your money back.
 
right now apple has not given any manufacturer the "OK" to make their cables. So anything you see right now is based purely off of stolen prototypes etc. They have only confirmed who can make their new pin, but nobody is licensed to sell the charging cables.
Source: My mom works for an apple accessories company.
 
bobo31790 said:
right now apple has not given any manufacturer the "OK" to make their cables. So anything you see right now is based purely off of stolen prototypes etc. They have only confirmed who can make their new pin, but nobody is licensed to sell the charging cables.
Source: My mom works for an apple accessories company.
Click to expand...

Im not surprised.
But as we know the chinese dont need any confirmation or licensing rights to start copying them:)
 
It's sketchy how they're all using Apple's stock photos... I'd be more willing to give them a shot if they had photos of what they were selling.

$10 is the perfect price for me though. I never had to buy 30-pin cables after years of owning iPods so it's strange to have to buy lightning cables all of the sudden.
 
I've ordered 2 from amazon. 1 lightening to USB, and 1 lightening to 32 pin socket.
I'll report back when they arrive.
 
DON'T BUY 3rd PARTY LIGHTING CABLE YET on ebay or amazon. It's not a simple cable Chinese knockoff makers can make. It won't work. AppleInsider reports the cable contain what looks like authentication chips inside the housing.

lightning-120921-1.jpg


lightning-120921-2.jpg
 
I ordered some cheap ones off eBay.

They were cheap so we will see if they work ok when I get them.
 
I'm waiting for monoprice cables. They always have excellent prices and in my experience are very well made products. I realize "lightning" cables might be a little more complicated than hdmi cables, but I have never had a product from them that didn't function perfectly.
 
I'm waiting to see if the cheaper cables you guys ordered work or not before I bite :D

But seriously, I went into 2 at&t stores and 1 best buy yesterday and apple hasnt given them any to sell.
 
MacChinoNyc said:
I'm waiting to see if the cheaper cables you guys ordered work or not before I bite :D

But seriously, I went into 2 at&t stores and 1 best buy yesterday and apple hasnt given them any to sell.
Click to expand...

Go to apple then lol

I've got a spare from apple. Then awaiting cheapo ones :)
 
There are also Lightning to 30 pin adapters from china on ebay for $4.00 and free shipping. I'll risk $4.00, haha.
 
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