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We’ve investigated a CNN report regarding dangerous AmazonBasics products, and no longer recommend our previous budget pick due to safety risks.
Most devices made by Apple—from iPhones to Magic Trackpads—need a Lightning cable in order to charge. But Apple’s 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 accessories. If you’re unhappy with the cable that came with your Apple device, or you just want a backup, we’ve tested dozens of Lightning cables to find the best options for a variety of needs.
We think a USB-C–to–Lightning cable (paired with a USB-C charger) is the best way for most people to charge their Apple devices. Although many people predominantly charge their phones and other small devices from USB-A ports, USB-C charging is faster—and it’s swiftly becoming more commonplace. But if you’re not yet ready to make the switch to USB-C, and you don’t mind dealing with slower charging speeds in the meantime, we also have several USB-A–to–Lightning cable recommendations.
This lengthy cable is MFi-certified, sturdily built, and comfortable to grip, and it has a lifetime warranty. Plus, with the right charger, it can power devices at top speed.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $15.
Who should get this: Someone who wants a great cable to charge their iPhone and other Lightning-powered devices as fast as possible.
Why it’s great: First and foremost, the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable (6 feet) is great because it supports the fastest possible charging speeds. When paired with a USB-C port putting out at least 18 watts of power—like those in many of our favorite laptops, power banks, and wall chargers—the PowerLine II can charge an iPhone up to three times as fast as a USB-A–to–Lightning cable.
This cable is MFi-certified, so Apple has confirmed that it will perform optimally (in terms of charging and data transfer capabilities) with its devices. Lightning cables that lack this certification—such as the kind you might buy at a gas station—aren’t necessarily much cheaper, and you run the risk of experiencing slower charging or even damaging your devices.
The 3-foot version of this cable is slim and compact, and it can be coiled up small to fit in a pocket or purse. The 6-foot version is a bit bulkier when coiled up and so is better suited to a desktop or bedside charging setup.
The rubber sheath encasing the PowerLine II is smooth yet grippy, and quite durable—holding up after more than a year of daily wear and tear. The cable’s housings—the parts that connect the metal plugs to the body of the cable—are the sturdiest and most comfortable to grip of any we’ve tested. Made of a single piece of matte-textured rubber, the housings provide ample room to grasp the plug firmly while you’re plugging and unplugging, which is the best way to avoid fraying and breakage. When we plugged both ends of each cable into a variety of devices, we found that they stayed put, with minimal wiggling—ensuring a solid connection for charging and data transfer.
A nonessential, but no less valuable, component of this cable is the hook-and-loop tie it comes with. It’s convenient and easy to use, ensuring that the cable won’t come uncoiled inside your bag or become a tangled mess under your desk.
Both lengths come in either black or white, and the 6-foot version is also available in army green. At the time of this writing, they both cost less than their Apple counterparts. Plus, they’re backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Anker cable isn’t quite as slim as some others we tested, including Apple’s versions, and this is our one complaint. But since it’s still one of the most compact options and outdid the competition in every other way, we’re okay with a little extra bulk.
If you want a fast-charging Lightning cable that can reach across rooms (and survive an apocalypse), this one’s for you.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $45.
Who should get this: Someone who wants to charge their iPhone and other Lightning-powered devices as fast as possible, and who prefers a cable that’s even longer and more ruggedly built than Anker’s PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable.
Why it’s great: Just like the Anker cables, the Nomad Lightning Cable USB-C with Kevlar (10 feet / 3 meters) can charge devices as fast as possible when paired with the right charger, and it’s MFi-certified. Plus, at a whopping 10 feet long, this cable can reach all the way across the couch. As someone who until very recently slept on a lofted bed, I can tell you the extra length is a game changer—and a rarity in USB-C–to–Lightning cables.
Although we typically don’t think a fabric casing is worth splurging on, the Nomad has the most ruggedly built sheath of any cable we’ve seen. It’s made of a thick, double-braided Kevlar that seems less prone to wear or snag than the more common nylon material. The cable’s plastic housings are sturdy, with little ridges along the collar for added flexibility. Like those on our Anker recommendations, the Nomad’s metal connectors fit snugly in most Lightning and USB-C ports.
The rubber cable tie that comes with the Nomad is also more robust than any we’ve seen, with thick ridges that keep it fastened shut so your cable stays securely coiled.
Although its coverage doesn’t match Anker’s lifetime warranty, the Nomad’s five-year warranty is still much longer than that of most cables we tested.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Because this cable is longer and more substantial than other cables we tested, it’s less compact for stowing in a pocket or a purse. But if you plan to mostly keep the Nomad in one place, or you have room to spare in your bag, it shouldn’t be too bothersome. The Nomad comes in only one color (black) and costs more than any other Lightning cable we tested, but if you want top charging speeds, length, and unparalleled durability, it’s your best bet.
This cable is MFi-certified, sturdily built, and comfortable to grip, and it has a lifetime warranty. The 6-foot version is long enough to reach from a wall outlet to a nightstand or desk.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $14.
Other available lengths: 1 foot, 3 feet, 10 feet
Who should get this: Someone who doesn’t have access to devices with USB-C or doesn’t need the fastest possible charge, but who still wants an otherwise great cable.
Why it’s great: The Anker PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable (6 feet) is the best USB-A–to–Lightning cable we’ve found. It’s MFi-certified, so Apple has confirmed it can support 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 devices.
This cable is available in a variety of lengths, making it convenient for a variety of needs. The 1-foot version and 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 the 10-foot version adds even more length to accommodate hard-to-reach outlets.
Like the PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable, the PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable has a smooth yet grippy exterior. Its housings are the perfect size (roomy), shape (curvaceous), and texture (soft, matte) to hold onto while you’re plugging and unplugging. The metal connectors slide easily into corresponding ports, and they maintain a solid connection once inserted. Also, they come with a hook-and-loop cable tie to keep them securely coiled and organized.
The 3-foot and 6-foot versions of this cable come in a wider variety of colors than our other picks—black, white, red, and blue—and they cost a few dollars less, at the time of this writing. Plus, this cable is backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: You won’t get the fastest possible charge with this cable; a USB-C–to–Lightning cable (like our top and upgrade picks) can charge an iPhone 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 you just want a USB-A–to–Lightning cable to have on hand as a backup, this is the best option.
Handy for travel, this three-in-one cable can connect to devices with Micro-USB, USB-C, and Lightning.
*At the time of publishing, the price was $18.
Who should get this: A three-in-one cable is, essentially, a USB-A–to–Micro-USB cable with Lightning and USB-C adapters attached by short tethers. Affix the Lightning adapter over the Micro-USB end, and it turns into a USB-A–to–Lightning cable. Swap it out for the USB-C adapter, and you’ve got a USB-A–to–USB-C cable. We don’t recommend any three-in-one cable for everyday use because the adapters add extra bulk and can be fussy to use, but they’re handy for traveling when you don’t want to carry three separate cables, or as a backup to keep in your desk drawer.
Why it’s great: Of all of the three-in-one cables we’ve tested, the Anker PowerLine II 3-in-1 Cable is a clear standout. It’s MFi-certified (which means you can trust that the Lightning adapter will work properly with iOS devices), and it’s sturdy and well made—holding up impeccably after more than two years of occasional use.
Anker’s 3-in-1 has the same sheath and housing styles (comfortable, sleek-looking, easy-to-grip rubber) that we love in the other PoweLine II cables. Even with the added bulk of the adapters—a USB-C plug and a Lightning plug attached to the main body of the cable by 2-inch-long rubber tethers—the 3-in-1 has a slim profile that’s easy to coil up and stow in a bag. Its adapters were the easiest to plug and unplug of any we tried, and stayed firmly in place once connected.
The Anker 3-in-1 is available in either black or white, and it’s backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: All three-in-one cables are an inelegant solution to address the multitude of cable standards and connectors needed to charge common devices. But if you regularly use all three ports (Micro-USB, USB-C, and Lightning) and hate carrying around three different cables, this is a decent solution. It’s available in only one length, but that’s not a huge deal since this one is best used for travel anyway—a longer cable would likely be too bulky to stash in a pocket. We also wish the tethers for the Anker 3-in-1’s rubber adapters were made of a stronger material—we haven’t had one break yet, but we fear that they could tear off after repeated, everyday use. The 3-in-1 doesn’t come with a hook-and-loop cable tie, and it won’t charge your devices as fast as our top or upgrade picks. But we think these are reasonable tradeoffs for extra versatility.
I’ve tested hundreds of cables and adapters for Wirecutter, as well as other charging gear like surge protectors, rechargeable AA and AAA batteries, and solar chargers. Also, we consulted with Lee Johnson, a former NASA engineer, for a previous version of this guide.
We scoured Amazon, Google Shopping, and other major retailers to find the most widely available Lightning cables. There are literally hundreds of brands selling Lightning cables, so we disregarded those made by companies we’d never heard of or those with a limited online presence. In our experience, less-established brands have a harder time keeping products in stock and providing adequate customer support. And cables from well-known companies often cost just pennies more.
From there, we narrowed our search based on the following criteria:
We preferred, but didn’t require, that each contender offer multiple color configurations. We didn’t have a strict price cap, but since most cables cost less than $10, options costing more than that had to offer some standout features—a lifetime warranty, an extra-rugged sheath—to be considered for testing.
Based on our previous testing of Lightning cables—we sent 40 cables to a former NASA engineer, who tore them apart to examine their internal components—we’ve learned that there’s little difference in their charging or data-transfer capabilities. Any MFi-certified Lightning cable should support up to 12 W of charging power (or up to 18 W if it’s a USB-C–to–Lightning cable) and USB 2.0 data transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps).
So, for subsequent rounds of testing, we mainly focused on the build quality of the sheath and housings—which vary widely from cable to cable—and made sure the metal connectors fit snugly into corresponding ports.
Also, if the cable came with an accessory (like a hook-and-loop cable tie to keep it neatly coiled) or extra feature (like a little LED light letting you know your device is charging), we considered the build quality and efficacy of that, too.
The Anker PowerLine+ II USB-C to Lightning Cable (3 feet) and Anker PowerLine+ II USB-C to Lightning Cable (6 feet) are nearly identical to their PowerLine II counterparts, except for the PowerLine+ cables’ double-braided nylon sheath, rather than the rubber coating of the PowerLine II version. We don’t think the different sheath adds much in terms of user experience, and these cables cost a few dollars more, which is why they aren’t our picks. But you should get them if you prefer a fabric sheath (and don’t want the added length or bulk of the Nomad).
Although the Belkin Boost Charge USB-C Cable with Lightning Connector (4 feet), the Kanex Premium DuraBraid USB-C to Lightning Cable (4 feet), and the RAVPower USB-C to Lightning Cable (3 feet) were mostly on a par with Anker’s cables in our testing, we didn’t think their housings were as sturdy or easy to grasp.
We didn’t think the housings on the Kanex Premium DuraBraid USB-C to Lightning Cable (6 feet) were as sturdy or easy to grasp as those on Anker’s cables in our testing. Plus, it costs more than its Anker counterpart.
Nomad’s Lightning Cable USB-C with Kevlar (5 feet / 1.5 meters) is just as ruggedly built as the 10-foot version. But at half the length, it’s not as useful for reaching faraway outlets—and it’s too bulky to pack in a pocket or purse for on-the-go charging.
In addition to these models, we’ve tested 15 other USB-C–to–Lightning cables—from Apple, Belkin, EasyAcc, ESR, Griffin, Lecone, monCarbone, Mophie, Nimble, Scosche, Ugreen, and Xcentz—against our picks. None of them offer the same combination of build quality, price, length options, portability, and multi-year warranties that our picks have.
We dismissed Satechi’s USB-C to Lightning Charging Cable without testing it because it’s available in only one length (6 feet) and sheath (black-and-white nylon) configuration.
We tested the Anker PowerLine USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet), Anker PowerLine USB-A to Lightning Cable (6 feet), and Anker Powerline USB-A to Lightning Cable (3 feet) against their PowerLine II counterparts, but we found their housings to be a bit less comfortable. Plus, they have only an 18-month warranty (compared with a lifetime).
We also tested the Anker PowerLine III USB-A Cable with Lightning Connector (6 feet) and Anker PowerLine III USB-A Cable with Lightning Connector (3 feet) against the Anker PowerLine II cables, but (again) we found the PowerLine II housings to be more comfortable for plugging and unplugging.
CNN reported that a number of AmazonBasics products are prone to explode, catch on fire, or begin smoking, melting or causing electrical malfunctions, including our previous budget pick, the AmazonBasics Lightning to USB-A cable. We’ve investigated Amazon customer reviews of this cable and no longer recommend it due to the amount of reports related to fire, heat and melting.
In a previous round of testing, we found that the double-braided nylon encasing the Anker PowerLine+ II USB-A to Lightning Cable (available in 1-foot, 3-foot, 6-foot, and 10-foot lengths) didn’t enhance user experience compared with its rubber-encased counterparts. Since these cables cost a few dollars more than our picks, and this material is known to wear down or snag (like a sweater) after extended use, we decided not to test them again.
We dismissed Apple’s Lightning to USB Cables (0.5 meter, 1 meter, 2 meters) without officially testing them (although, since the shortest version comes with most Apple products, we’ve used it extensively) because their housings are notoriously flimsy, and they cost more than most models we tested.
We dismissed the Monoprice USB-A to Lightning Cable and Monoprice Select Series USB-A to Lightning Cable without testing them because their housings are small and angular (not ideal for gripping) and they’re sold only on the company’s website.
We dismissed the Moshi USB Cable with Lightning Connector (3.3 feet) and Moshi USB Cable with Lightning Connector (10 feet) without testing them because their housings are small and angular, they have only a one-year warranty, and they cost more than most models we tested.
We dismissed the Native Union Belt Cable XL and Night Cable without testing them because we had previously tested their USB-C counterparts and thought that the leather snap-on cable tie and weighted knot were tacky looking and didn’t add any practical value, respectively. Plus, the black-and-white nylon (which both cables’ sheaths are made of) snagged easily, and the housings were angular and uncomfortable to grip while plugging and unplugging.
We dismissed the Nomad USB-A to Lightning Cable with Kevlar (5 feet 1.5 meters) without testing it because it’s too short for most desk setups, yet it’s too bulky for on-the-go charging.
We dismissed the Nomad Kevlar Lightning Cable (10 feet / 3 meters) without testing it because, at this price, you should be getting the fastest possible charging speed. Splurge for one of our top or upgrade picks and a USB-C charger, instead.
Second only to Anker’s three-in-one cable, the Monoprice USB-A to Micro-USB, USB-C, Lightning Cable is MFi-certified and has a lifetime warranty. It has a compact design, and its plastic adapters were easy to plug and unplug in our testing. However, the Monoprice's metal connectors were less stable when plugged into corresponding ports, which could cause interruptions in charging or transferring data.
Like the Anker three-in-one cable, the Nomad Universal Cable USB-A (1.5 meters) is MFi-certified, and, in our testing, its connectors stayed firmly in place when plugged into various ports. At 5 feet long, it’s 2 feet longer than our pick, yet it still coils down to be fairly compact. The Nomad’s Kevlar sheath is the most rugged we’ve seen, and its rubber cable tie is similarly sturdy. But this cable’s plastic adapters were the worst of any we tried (plugging and unplugging them feels like doing battle with an unyielding opponent), which was a dealbreaker for us.
With a bit of care, you can prolong the life of any cable. Most important, when you’re unplugging a cable from a USB port, always grasp the plug housing rather than the cable. Doing so reduces the stress on the area where the cable and the plug meet—a spot that’s prone to damage.
We also recommend that, when you aren’t using them, you loosely wrap cables, rather than folding or otherwise aggressively bending them. Tight coils and folds can damage the metal wires inside the cable, causing it to work improperly and shorten its lifespan. The hook-and-loop fasteners that Anker includes with most of its cables are great for properly storing your cables, because they allow a loosely coiled cable to hold its shape for compact storage. We have more tips for safely storing your cables in our guides to the best bag organizers and the best gear for organizing your desk.
Sarah Witman has researched, tested, and reviewed all manner of products—from massage chairs and mousetraps to pencils and power banks—since joining Wirecutter in 2017. Before that, she worked as a science writer and fact checker for numerous publications, and she studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin. In her spare time, she eats as much cheese as her body will tolerate.
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