We all are looking for a good deal when we go out to make a purchase; saving money is the goal. But is what we save worth it in the end? We have all heard the saying ‘you get what you pay for’, but does this hold true for iPhone chargers?
Damage linked to bad charging cords is pretty common. In one iFixit Answers forum, there were 45,000 views for this issue and that was just for the iPhone 5c. I know it is easy to cave when there are so many cheaper options out there; when my daughter lost her charger, it was immediately what I wanted to do. So how do you differentiate the good from the bad? Just remember to always look for accessories with an MFi certification, which stands for “Made for iPhone, or iPod, or iPad.” There should be a sticker on the package, that will ensure those third-party accessories will work with your Apple product.
So why is it so important to ensure you buy the right charger? Because the wrong charger can give your phone unlimited power and burn out a very important chip in your phone called the Tristar, causing extensive damage. Rule of thumb, if the charger is less than $5, it will probably do damage to your phone.
Another article from Digmodo looked at iPhone chargers from a few different perspectives. They compared a Generic charger, an Apple charger, and an Abble charger. All were used for about 6 months and then disassembled to compare quality. Two of the three chargers made it through the 6 months while the third Generic one came apart when pulled out of the wall and the prongs remained stuck in the outlet. The Apple charger was the most difficult to take apart and finally had to be broken open with some strong pliers, which attests to the quality. The Generic and Abble both had inadequate insulation and other inferior parts. There is just not the same amount of quality control in these other products.
Since iOS 7 has come into the picture, iPhones and iPads have been able to automatically detect when an unofficial lightning cable has been used. When this happens, iOS will display a notification informing you that you are using an unofficial cable and that the performance might not be the same. This can definitely be annoying after a while when attempting to charge your phone. There is also a possibility to get some errors when syncing your iOS device with iTunes on your PC or Mac.
So what is the conclusion? Play it safe for you and your phone and spend the couple extra dollars. It will be worth it in the end.
I have found this to be so true! sometimes I have grabbed a charger at a drug store or gas station in a pinch when my phone died and there was not one to be found in the van. (employees take theirs home every night). I have bought one at a Target that was their higher dollar one, and it is working still. But most are worthless, better to buy an iphone one.