Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Unwrap a New Apple Device? Stock Up on Extra Certified Lightning Cables for as Little as $6
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I've replaced half a dozen or so batteries for friends with older Mac Laptops, with Anker batteries.
Years later, they're all plugging along, with no signs of bulging like the Original Apple batteries, that were on the verge of destroying the motherboards.
Cost half as much, and were more readily available.
If they "died" shortly after you got them and you didn't contact customer support... well, why didn't you? They back their products well, which was one reason I bought and recommend them.
I admit, I've never clicked on a MacRumors link to them though.
Huge fan and current user (for years) of Anker cables and batteries.
I bought a Lightning cable replacement because Apple refused to change it within warranty period, and I picked up a 2m Rampow cable.
Turns out, the new model has a bigger and fat lightning connector, but the previous model, red colored, and made out of aluminum, is gorgeous. Both of them work pretty well, but I'm beginning to use them, I don't know if, over time, it will break sooner than later.
Next time I will give a try to those Anker cables, as @john123, and @BigMcGuire seem very satisfied with them.
Turns out, the new model has a bigger and fat lightning connector, but the previous model, red colored, and made out of aluminum, is gorgeous. Both of them work pretty well, but I'm beginning to use them, I don't know if, over time, it will break sooner than later.
Next time I will give a try to those Anker cables, as @john123, and @BigMcGuire seem very satisfied with them.
Last edited:
+1 for Anker. I've got their cables, a power pack and a car usb adapter. All top quality and very competitively priced.
Apple cables are overpriced, and that tacky half-cured rubber coating acts as a real dirt magnet.
Apple cables are overpriced, and that tacky half-cured rubber coating acts as a real dirt magnet.
Sorry don't agree. I look after my stuff, have had every iphone released without damaging one, but the cables are GARBAGE, shameful garbage.
I use and appreciate Anker products but for cables I use Monoprice. Lifetime warranty and replacement is a phone call away. Of the 30 or so cables that I have purchased from Monoprice (large family and grandkids) only 3 have failed. They were replaced with no questions other than what color I want.
Affiliate marketing is a great revenue generator and many websites and blogs use it to stay in business. It beats throwing up ads because you can choose what you feature for quality control. I have no problem purchasing through affiliate links if the website is worthy.
[doublepost=1514253385][/doublepost]
[doublepost=1514253385][/doublepost]
Same here. We are power users and have about ~10 of their cables in various areas of the house and car and they are all in great shape. They get wound up and plugged in every day, not just sit and collect dust.
If you unwrapped an Apple product today it likely came with one of the company's first-party Lightning cables, but having an extra on hand is always a good idea, so you can place it in other rooms in your house, in your car, or in a bag when you travel.
For that reason, now's a good time to shop for third-party Lightning cables that are cheaper than Apple's own accessory, but still Made For iPhone certified to guarantee their quality.
One of the best examples of this is well-known and reliable third-party accessory maker Anker, which has a 3ft / 0.9m Lightning Cable for just $5.99 on Amazon. Apple's comparable product, the Lightning to USB Cable, sells for $19.00 on Apple.com.
Additionally, this holiday Anker has a combo promotion with the Lightning Cable. If you purchase the $5.99 cable (or other qualifying products), you can save 10 percent on either the Anker Elite Dual Port 24W USB Travel Wall Charger ($9.53, down from $10.59) or the Anker PowerCore 26800 Portable Charger ($55.79, down from $61.99). Anker has other cables, chargers, and power banks on its Amazon storefront.
Many of Anker's accessories have been certified under Apple's MFi program, which helps consumers identify products that are assured to work well with iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Shoppers should keep an eye out for MFi certifications when shopping for products like Lightning cables, and be wary of counterfeit accessories that are somewhat common on Amazon and could potentially harm their devices.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Article Link: Unwrap a New Apple Device? Stock Up on Extra Certified Lightning Cables for as Little as $6
I dont believe its matters a single jot whether you buy an Apple charging plug/cable, brand or unbranded ones, and paying more for quality cables has proved to be a myth. Makes no differrnce purchasing from a reputable dealer on the high street or online. The truth is the lightning cable design is a failure. The simple fact that there are numerous blogs, websites and retailers dedicated to spinning Iphone users that there is a petfect lightning cable out there, let alone the copious blogs complaining of cable failures, is testiment to this.
There is little to no specific information anywhere I have looked, that explains WHY a perfectly intact lightning cable should stop working from one day to the next. The advice not to buy cheap ubranded priducts is ubixuitoius
I hace dusvion Apple know the latest lighting cable design is pants - every time I have been to an Apples shop (in London at least) staff swear blind they “have not encountered any problems with lightning cables”. Clearly their market research tells them why they arr selling so many lighting cables.
Each time, I come out the store with. a new cable costing around £25.00..!! 5 x £25 in the space of a 12 months is a lot of money for 1m of plastic coated copper...!!
Excluding the costs of supposedly “compatible” charger plugs, emergency charger packs, jackplug to ligtning headphone adaptors, charger/headphone splitter cable/drvices, thats around 1/7th of the cost an iphone7plus..!!!
I have not even touched on the failures around different charging timex for “compatible” chargers and failures after interchanging vaious branded “compstible” chargers, cables and splitters.
I’m not technical about iphones. But I do know lightning cables: branded, rugged or othereise, fail after a few months normal use.
Looking at the flimsiness of a lightning cable, I’d hazard a guess that Apple have exceeded the limit of manufacturing a compact data/power transmission system that is , rugged and reliable enough to withstand everyday normal use for a prolonged period of time.
Unless and until a fast and secure “radiowave” data upload and download system is implemted for Iphones, users will have no choice but to continue contributing to Apples coffers by payingt for substandard cables.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
LOL @ $5.99 vs Apple's $19.99. Prolly made just one assembly line over too.... in China. Apple's margin is probably 90% on that product. I'm so glad Apple cares about me. I don't know what I'd do without their commitment to excellence.
Apple makes $4 on this cable too. I dont know how Anker manages to sell a MFi certified cable @ 5.99 when MFi fees take a massive chunk ie $4 on it. But having said that, Anker is a top company when it comes to building reliable accessories and if for some reason the product craps out, they have really really good after sales and will usually send a replacement without asking for the old one.
I feel you. It's totally ridiculous that the new iPhones/iPads only come with the cable to connect OLD laptops that Apple doesn't even sell anymore. I shouldn't need an adapter when I have the latest iPhone and the latest MacBook. Maybe I'm overly irked but the fact that this has been going on for one year now seems so sloppy for a company like Apple.
Just bought 2 of these, great price. Really nice to have an accessory company like Anker that makes quality stuff that feels like it comes from Apple, not too many of them around. Most computer and AV accessories at reasonable prices are total crap and will probably stop working soon, if they even work at all on delivery.
Question is once an accessory breaks do you really think people are buying new Apple cables or heading to cheaper alternatives? I don’t think Apple makes a lot on accessories.
I have the Apple USB-C to Lightning cable, and it's much thicker and less flimsy than the USB-A one. It's still expensive, but at least the build quality appears to be better. Would rather buy from Anker, though.
I agree that Apple's own cables aren't the best, but every time I've had one wear through I've just taken it into an Apple Store and they've exchanged it for a new one, no questions, no need to provide any proof of purchase (though as I tend to buy at least one Apple product that comes with a Lightning cable every year, I do always have at least one cable under warranty if they do ask).
I've just bought a couple of 'Amazon Basics' ones for the kids for Christmas as spares, so it'll be interesting to see how they compare.
I've just bought a couple of 'Amazon Basics' ones for the kids for Christmas as spares, so it'll be interesting to see how they compare.
