Many Apple devices, including older iPhones, iPads, AirPods, Magic Keyboards, and more, still use the company’s proprietary Lightning connection, even though an increasing number of them have USB-C or wireless charging capabilities.
There’s just one problem: Apple’s Lightning cables are known for being weak, and they cost more than many third-party cables that work just as well as Apple’s own cables.
We tried dozens of Lightning cords to find the best ones for a wide range of uses in case you don’t like the one that came with your Apple device or just want a backup.
Other available lengths: 3 feet, 6 feet
This cable is for people who want to charge their iPhone, AirPods, or other Lightning-powered devices as quickly as possible before 2023. It is long and sturdy.
Why it’s great: The Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable (10 feet) is great because it can charge your phone as quickly as possible.
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An iPhone 8 or later’s battery can be charged from completely dead to 50% in 30 minutes using a powerful enough wall charger, but Apple’s standard cable and charger can only charge the battery to 17% in the same amount of time (as we tested with an iPhone XR). Although the rate at which batteries charge varies, this number generally corresponds to a full phone charge in an hour as opposed to three hou
Apple has verified that this cable will work best (in terms of charging and data-transfer capabilities) with its Lightning-powered devices because it is MFi-certified. Lightning cables without this certification, such the ones you might get at a petrol station, aren’t often substantially less expensive, but using them puts your devices at danger of slower charging or even damage.
Despite being smooth and gripping, the PowerLine II’s rubber sheath is incredibly robust, withstanding daily wear and tear for almost a year in our tests. We saw very little shaking when we put both ends of each cable into various devices; this stability guarantees a strong connection for data transfer and charging.
Out of all the cables we evaluated, the housings—the sections that join the metal connectors to the cable body—are the strongest and most comfortable to hold. The housings, which are made of a single piece of matte-textured rubber, give you enough of space to hold the plug securely when plugging it in and disconnecting it—the ideal method to prevent fraying and breaking.
The hook-and-loop tie that comes with this cable is an optional but equally valuable part. Convenient and simple to use, the tie prevents the wire from becoming tangled beneath your desk or uncoiled within your luggage.
This lightning cable is a luxurious ten feet length, in contrast to most others. The additional length is invaluable if you regularly charge your phone far from an outlet, such as when you’re resting in bed, relaxing on the couch, or passing the time by your gate at the airport.
The 3-foot version of this cable is thin and light, and it can be folded up to fit in a pocket or purse if you want a shorter length. The 6-foot model is also ideal for stationary use in a desktop or nightstand charging arrangement, or for transporting in a backpack or briefcase.
All three models are covered by Anker’s lifetime warranty and come in black or white. Additionally, the 3-foot and 6-foot cables are now less expensive than their Apple equivalents, and Apple does not produce a 10-foot Lightning cable.
We have one issue, but it’s not a major one: the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable isn’t as thin as some of the other cables we examined, such as Apple’s Lightning cords. We don’t mind a little extra bulk, though, because it’s still among the smallest options and it beat the competition in every other aspect.
Additional lengths available: five feet
Who ought to receive this? Someone looking for a cable that is as long as any we’ve tested, has even more robust construction than the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable, and can charge devices powered by Lightning at maximum speed.
Why it’s so good: When used with an 18 W USB-C wall charger, the Nomad USB-C to Lightning Cable with Kevlar (10 feet) can charge the majority of pre-2023 iPhones, AirPods, and other Lightning-powered devices as quickly as possible, just as our favorite Lightning cable for USB-C ports. With its impressive 10-foot length, it can reach across most couches and is MFi approved.
Generally speaking, a fabric casing isn’t worth the expense, but this Nomad cable has the most durable sheath of any cable we’ve seen. It appears to be less likely to snag or wear than the more popular nylon since it is composed of a thick, double-braided Kevlar material. With large ridges that keep it firmly shut and ensure your wire stays securely coiled, the rubber cable tie that comes with this Nomad cable is also stronger than any we’ve encountered.
The plastic housings of the cable are robust, and the collar has little bumps for extra flexibility. Additionally, this Nomad cable features metal connections that fit snuggly into the majority of USB-C and Lightning ports, just like Anker’s PowerLine II cables.
Additional lengths offered include one foot, three feet, and six feet.
Who should purchase this? Someone who can live without the fastest possible charge but still wants a fantastic cable but does not have access to wall chargers, power banks, or other devices with USB-C connectors.
Why it’s so good: The finest USB-A to Lightning cable that we have found is the Anker PowerLine II (10 feet). Apple has confirmed that it can achieve full USB 2.0 data-transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps) and peak charging speeds (when combined with a charger that can generate up to 12 W of electricity) with any of the company’s Lightning-powered products because it is MFi-certified.
This cable is convenient for a range of applications because it comes in different lengths. Both the 1-foot and 3-foot versions are sufficiently tiny and portable to be carried around.
Without creating extra clutter, the 6-foot model is a suitable length to extend from a wall outlet to a desk, nightstand, or kitchen countertop. The 10-foot version, which is our favorite of the lot, extends even further to reach outlets that are difficult to reach.
gripping surface, and a hook-and-loop cable tie is included to keep it firmly wound and The PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable sports a sleek yet well-organized design, just like its USB-C fast-charging cousin. Its housings are comfortable to hold while plugging and unplugging because of their curved shape and pleasingly soft, matte texture. Once inserted, the metal connections stay securely connected and slip into their respective ports with ease.
The cable comes in black and white in all four length variants. As of this writing, they even cost a few dollars less than their USB-C-to-Lightning counterparts, and they are covered by Anker’s lifetime warranty.
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Defects but not fatalities: Most importantly, this cable does not provide the fastest possible charge; most iPhones may be charged up to three times faster using a USB-C-to-Lightning cable. However, this is your best option if you don’t already have a power bank or wall charger with USB-C ports that can charge quickly at home, or if you simply want to have a USB-A-to-Lightning connection handy for emergencies.
It should be noted that the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester indicated a signal-integrity error—one of the three sorts of problems it can identify—when we ran this cable through it. The impact on charging or data-transfer speeds is probably too small for most people to notice, but these errors appeared with many of the cables we tested with this device, particularly those longer than three feet (power and data must travel farther in a longer cable, which can slightly degrade the signal).
Reasons to believe in us
I’ve spent more time studying and testing Lightning cables than I’d like to confess because I’ve been writing this tutorial for the past four years. For over ten years, I have written about a wide range of science subjects, from satellite remote sensing to particle physics. I have covered a variety of topics since I started working at Wirecutter in 2017, including surge protectors, rechargeable batteries, and portable laptop chargers.
In order to better understand the inner workings of charging cords, we spoke with Lee Johnson, a former NASA electrical engineer, for earlier iterations of this article. Reporting for this article was also done by freelance journalist Jared Newman, who has over 15 years of experience covering consumer electronics and produced Wirecutter’s guide to the best USB-C cables.
Even while Nomad’s five-year warranty isn’t as long as Anker’s lifetime warranty, this cable still has far more coverage than the majority of cables we’ve tested. (In any case, Anker is referring to the cable’s lifespan rather than a human lifetime, as is the case with most “lifetime” warranties.)
Problems but not deal-breakers: This cable is larger and heavier than the others we examined, making it harder to fit in a pocket or purse. However, it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle if you want to keep it largely in one location or if you have extra space in your backpack.
This cable only comes in one color (black), and its tactical-gear appearance isn’t for everyone. However, we still believe it to be stylish and functional.
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