Apple isn’t the only company that makes Apple-compatible charging cables. There are a ton of them out there, so it can be hard to know what to buy. We’ve rounded up the best lightning cables we can find, and we’ve included them all below. Some of these cables come directly from Apple. Others come from third parties and are MFi certified. We’ll cover that in more detail at the end, but it basically means the cable is Apple-certified that it works as it should. Still, other cables in this list can charge multiple devices with the same cable, so there’s a lot to choose from. Without further ado, read on for our picks! The cable is made from a durable rubberized coating that picks up stains pretty easily which is unfortunate. It’s 6 feet long, which means it’ll be able to reach just about anywhere you might need it. Longer cables are also great for using your phone while it charges. You have more freedom of movement. However, 6 feet of cable can get easily tangled and be harder to manage. Cable Length: 2 meters | Cable Casing: Plastic | Connections: USB-A to Lightning | MFi Certified: Yes Like our top pick, this cable’s rubberized casing gets dirty very easily and is not easily cleaned. Unlike the top pick, there isn’t the length to worry about, so it will probably stay off the floor (and perhaps stay cleaner for longer). But you still get all the same benefits having been designed and sold by Apple. It will work perfectly with your iPhone or iPad, just as Apple wants it to. Cable Length: 1 meter | Cable Casing: Plastic | Connections: USB-A to Lightning | MFi Certified: Yes It’s hard to be sure about durability since the cables are missing MFi certification, and YUNSONG doesn’t offer a warranty. They charge as well as the official iPhone cable, which is good news. But if you want a little more assurance from your purchase, you might want to look elsewhere. Cable Length: 6 feet | Cable Casing: Braided nylon, aluminum alloy | Connections: USB-A to Lightning | MFi Certified: No One nice touch is in the grippy pattern etched into each end. It makes it easier to properly unplug the cables by grabbing the connector as opposed to the cable, which is how you should always unplug cables. In case you don’t, this cable is thicker and a little more reinforced, but that also makes it a little hard to bend and maneuver. Still, a little extra protection is important and will help keep your phone safe from shorts and cable damage. Cable Length: 6 feet | Cable Casing: Plastic | Connections: USB-A to Lightning | MFi Certified: Yes If you travel often, or if you just have a lot of devices, this is a great cable for you. You can charge your Android phone, iPad, and even an accessory that uses microUSB all at once. The cable doesn’t sync data, which is important to know. This is just for charging. You’re going to want a pretty powerful power brick as well if you plan to charge four devices at once. Cable Length: 4 feet | Cable Casing: Braided nylon and aluminum alloy | Connections: USB-A to USB-A to 2x Lightning, 1x USB-C, and 1x microUSB | MFi Certified: No The cable uses the less common USB-C to lightning connection, so if you need a cable that also works with your computer, be sure that your computer has a USB-C port. Of course, the included wall charger will work, but if you’re looking for data transfer as well, that’s an important consideration. Overall, for the price, this is a pretty decent deal, and it comes in black or white. Cable Length: 6 feet | Cable Casing: Plastic | Connections: USB-C to Lightning | MFi Certified: Unknown Yoona Wagener has been writing for Lifewire since 2019. She has a background in consumer technology, mobile devices, and technical writing. She tested several of the iPhone cables on this list.
What to Look for in an iPhone Lightning Cable
MFi Certification
MFi stands for “Made For iPod,” and as the name implies, it was first set up in 2005 when iPods were still common. These days, the MFi program ensures all cables that get the certification meet Apple’s exacting standards for construction, durability, and safety. We have a full explainer article about the MFi program, but the gist of it is, MFi certification ensures that the cable will remain structurally sound, will not be tampered with or hacked, and will work well for power and data.
Durability
If you go with a cable that is not MFi certified, you’ll want to check on the build quality and materials the cable uses. Braided nylon is great for stretching and pull resistance. Plastic and PVC can fray over time. Most cables will say how many bends they’re rated for. You’ll want a number in the thousands or higher.
Length
Of course, length is a key factor in your cable choice. If you want a cable for your bedside, longer is probably better. If you need a cable for your desk, shorter will probably be OK. Most of the cables in this list are 3 or 6 feet long, so be sure you choose one that’s appropriate for your situation.
