Lightning Cable for iPhone and iPad for USB-A ports: USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet)
A growing number of Apple devices are equipped with USB-C or wireless charging capabilities, but many—including older iPhones, iPads, AirPods, Magic Keyboards, and more—still use the company’s proprietary Lightning port.
The trouble is that Apple’s Lightning cables are notoriously flimsy, and they cost more than many third-party cables—even those that Apple has certified will perform just as well as its own cables.
If you’re unhappy with the cable that came with your Apple device, or if you just want a backup, we’ve tested dozens of Lightning cables to find the best options for a variety of needs.
Who should get this: Someone who doesn’t have access to wall chargers, power banks, or other devices with USB-C ports, and who can live without getting the fastest possible charge but still wants an otherwise great cable.
Why it’s great: The USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet) is the best USB-A–to–Lightning cable we’ve found. It’s MFi-certified, so Apple has confirmed that it can reach top charging speeds (when paired with a charger that can crank out up to 12 W of power) and full USB 2.0 data-transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps) with any of the company’s Lightning-powered devices.
This cable is available in a variety of lengths, making it convenient for a variety of needs. The 1-foot version and the 3-foot version are small and compact enough to pack up and take with you.
The 6-foot version is a good length to reach from a wall outlet to a desk, bedside table, or kitchen countertop without adding unnecessary clutter. And our favorite of the bunch, the 10-foot version, adds even more length to accommodate hard-to-reach outlets.
Like its fast-charging USB-C twin, the PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable has a smooth yet grippy exterior, and it comes with a hook-and-loop cable tie to keep it securely coiled and organized. Its housings have a curvaceous shape and a pleasantly soft, matte texture, both of which make them comfortable to hold while you’re plugging and unplugging. The metal connectors slide easily into corresponding ports, and they maintain a solid connection once inserted.
All four length configurations of this cable are available in black and white. They’re backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty, and they even cost a few bucks less than their USB-C–to–Lightning brethren, as of this writing.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Most notably, you don’t get the fastest possible charge with this cable; a USB-C–to–Lightning cable can charge most iPhones up to three times as fast. But if you don’t already have a wall charger or power bank with fast-charging USB-C ports at home, or if you just want to have a USB-A–to–Lightning cable on hand to use in a pinch, this one is your best bet.
Also note that when we ran this cable through the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester, it reported a signal-integrity error (one of three types of errors the tester is designed to detect). However, such errors cropped up with many cables we tested with this device, especially those longer than 3 feet (power and data have to travel farther in a longer cable, which can slightly degrade the signal) and the impact on charging or data-transfer speeds is likely to be too minor for most people to notice.
Who should get this: Someone who doesn’t have access to wall chargers, power banks, or other devices with USB-C ports, and who can live without getting the fastest possible charge but still wants an otherwise great cable.
Why it’s great: The USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet) is the best USB-A–to–Lightning cable we’ve found. It’s MFi-certified, so Apple has confirmed that it can reach top charging speeds (when paired with a charger that can crank out up to 12 W of power) and full USB 2.0 data-transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps) with any of the company’s Lightning-powered devices.
This cable is available in a variety of lengths, making it convenient for a variety of needs. The 1-foot version and the 3-foot version are small and compact enough to pack up and take with you.
The 6-foot version is a good length to reach from a wall outlet to a desk, bedside table, or kitchen countertop without adding unnecessary clutter. And our favorite of the bunch, the 10-foot version, adds even more length to accommodate hard-to-reach outlets.
Like its fast-charging USB-C twin, the PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable has a smooth yet grippy exterior, and it comes with a hook-and-loop cable tie to keep it securely coiled and organized. Its housings have a curvaceous shape and a pleasantly soft, matte texture, both of which make them comfortable to hold while you’re plugging and unplugging. The metal connectors slide easily into corresponding ports, and they maintain a solid connection once inserted.
All four length configurations of this cable are available in black and white. They’re backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty, and they even cost a few bucks less than their USB-C–to–Lightning brethren, as of this writing.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Most notably, you don’t get the fastest possible charge with this cable; a USB-C–to–Lightning cable can charge most iPhones up to three times as fast. But if you don’t already have a wall charger or power bank with fast-charging USB-C ports at home, or if you just want to have a USB-A–to–Lightning cable on hand to use in a pinch, this one is your best bet.
Also note that when we ran this cable through the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester, it reported a signal-integrity error (one of three types of errors the tester is designed to detect). However, such errors cropped up with many cables we tested with this device, especially those longer than 3 feet (power and data have to travel farther in a longer cable, which can slightly degrade the signal) and the impact on charging or data-transfer speeds is likely to be too minor for most people to notice.