Cheap lightning cables?

[senttoschool]

Any harm in buying some cheap lightning charging cable on eBay? Need a second charger.

[runawayprisoner]

Yep. They may not work.

Lightning cables have a small id chip inside that identifies the adapter to the device. If the device doesn't see the chip, it won't do anything.

[TheStu]

Originally Posted by runawayprisoner

Yep. They may not work.

Lightning cables have a small id chip inside that identifies the adapter to the device. If the device doesn't see the chip, it won't do anything.

My understanding was that was a secondary function, the primary function was to allow the cable to switch the functions of the pins, since it is reversible and can change its function based on the situation.

[HaukSwe]

I've had a fair amount of fake "old ipod" cables and often got "charging not supported with this device" errors etc etc. It'd probably take a while before a good lightning fake is out?

[MotionMan]

I am starting to see Lightening cables on Amazon claiming that they charge and sync. Of course they are far cheaper than the Apple cables.

Has anyone tried any of those?

MotionMan

[TheStu]

Originally Posted by MotionMan

I am starting to see Lightening cables on Amazon claiming that they charge and sync. Of course they are far cheaper than the Apple cables.

Has anyone tried any of those?

MotionMan

Well, Apple charges $20 for theirs, and they say that they have to hold the keys to the chip inside, so I would imagine that we will see people selling legit ones for less than Apple is, but probably not the $2 for 10 that you can get 30pin cables for.

[bigrash]

I ordered some cheap lightning cable from ebay. Still waiting on them. Don't wanna spend $20 at apple, but I have a feeling the cheap ones won't work and I'll be forced to.

[akugami]

I'd pay $5 tops for a knockoff cable that works. The early ones on Amazon don't inspire too much confidence. Some of them seem to "work" for charging but aren't reversible.

[senttoschool]

Originally Posted by bigrash

I ordered some cheap lightning cable from ebay. Still waiting on them. Don't wanna spend $20 at apple, but I have a feeling the cheap ones won't work and I'll be forced to.

Let us know how it works.

[GregGreen]

I really just wish Apple would sell a longer one. That's all I want.

[JackBurton]

Originally Posted by GregGreen

I really just wish Apple would sell a longer one. That's all I want.

Yeah, I agree. I don't mind the price, it's just too short.

[bearxor]

Just grab a USB extension off Monoprice. They're cheap and they work.

[GregGreen]

Originally Posted by bearxor

Just grab a USB extension off Monoprice. They're cheap and they work.

The USB extensions I have don't charge at full "strength" from the outlet. Downvolt a bit.

I know I can buy a regular extension cord, but I just want one LONGER cord. Not a bunch of cords.

[Don Vito Corleone]

I just received my order of three of these "Chromo Inc." aftermarket Lightning cables - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o01_s00_i00

I paid $1.98, plus $5 shipping, for each cable. I ordered on Tuesday and received them today (3 days later). While I hate vendors who rape you on shipping, I still got three cables for under $21, less than one Apple branded one would have cost at the Apple store, once sales tax is factored in.

The cables seem to work perfectly for charging, and work regardless of the orientation of the Lightning plug (apparently some of the aftermarket ones only work in one orientation). The cable is similar to, but perhaps a bit thicker than, the Apple branded one, and the USB end has the rounded shoulders used on older iPod cables. Also the end of the Lightning plug has a very slight bulge on the sides (much like the 30-pin iPod cables, but smaller) to retain the plug more securely, something I don't believe the OEM one has. Overall it seems like a fine product and only an Apple nerd would probably notice that it's not OEM.

I do not know whether the cables work perfectly for data transfer, but will report back once I've had a chance to try that.

Unfortunately since I ordered these cables the price has gone from $7 including shipping to $14 with free Super Saver/Prime shipping. At that price I might well have just gone for Apple branded ones. There are still other vendors offering generic Lightning cables on Amazon but none are as highly rated as the Chromo Inc.

[Kaido]

Originally Posted by akugami

I'd pay $5 tops for a knockoff cable that works. The early ones on Amazon don't inspire too much confidence. Some of them seem to "work" for charging but aren't reversible.

How about $5.30?

http://dx.com/p/usb-sync-data-chargi...e-100cm-163395

[yehness]

I purchased a 'fake' Lighting to 30pin Adapter... it works until the phone is fully charge then it gives me an error "charging not supported with this device". I usually take the plug out push it back in and it charges... I only would like to mention it doesn't charge as fast.

[John Dyers]

Originally Posted by MotionMan

I am starting to see Lightening cables on Amazon claiming that they charge and sync. Of course they are far cheaper than the Apple cables.

Has anyone tried any of those?

MotionMan

I have tried and tested several and have not yet found one that works properly. When we pull them apart, they have a lot of deficiencies: no braided shielding; no drain wire; foil screens not properly terminated.

Frustrating.

[gmaster456]

I've bought a couple of the cheap <$5 cables (30pin) and they worked for a while but very quickly fell apart (literally). I ended up just spending $20 on the apple one.

[goobee]

Originally Posted by John Dyers

I have tried and tested several and have not yet found one that works properly. When we pull them apart, they have a lot of deficiencies: no braided shielding; no drain wire; foil screens not properly terminated.

Frustrating.

You created an account just to post this?

[MotionMan]

Originally Posted by goobee

You created an account just to post this?

You have to start somewhere, I guess.

MotionMan

[bearxor]

Hey, at least he doesn't want to give you an iPod. So there's that at least.

[TheStu]

Hey hey hey, did someone say Free iPods??

[pm]

For what it's worth, I bought two of these:
http://www.amazon.com/BoxWave-Lightn.../dp/B000LGC32Q

One worked fine for charging and data, the other was dead (no charging, no data syncing). I contacted the vendor (Boxwave) for a replacement and they cross-shipped a replacement and it arrived quickly and I sent the dead one back via USPS and that was cheap enough.

I've been pretty pleased. The fit is a bit tighter than the Apple cable and the wires are a bit stiffer, but aside from that, I would really have a hard time telling the difference.

[Rakehellion]

Originally Posted by gmaster456

I've bought a couple of the cheap <$5 cables (30pin) and they worked for a while but very quickly fell apart (literally). I ended up just spending $20 on the apple one.

This. I'd stock up on the 99 cent cables because they'd fall apart and never really fit properly.

Overall, it's less frustrating and just as economical to buy the Apple-branded cables.

[ColdFusion718]

Originally Posted by senttoschool

Any harm in buying some cheap lightning charging cable on eBay? Need a second charger.

They're not worth it, imho.