Best Products > Phones & Accessories 105 105 people found this article helpful The 6 Best iPhone Lightning Cables of 2021 Make sure your iPhone never runs out of juice with these Lightning cables by Adam S. Doud Writer Adam has been writing about mobile technology since 2011. He is the former host of the Android Authority podcast, and his work has appeared in numerous publications. our editorial process Twitter LinkedIn Adam S. Doud Updated on June 17, 2021 fact checked by Stephen Slaybaugh Fact Checker Stephen Slaybaugh is a fact checker and music writer with with more than 20 years experience writing about internet retail and consumer tech. He has been featured in Digital Trends, DealNews, and TechRadar. He is a content designer at Bose Corporation and is completing his Master of Arts in Digital Media. Our Fact-Checking Process LinkedIn Article fact-checked on May 21, 2021 Stephen Slaybaugh Tweet Share Email Phones & Accessories Accessories Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Your iPhone is one of your most-used devices, so it's important to find the best iPhone lightning cable to charge it up as fast as possible. Apple includes a single charging cable in the box, but if you're on the go or you just want a spare, we've got you covered. 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 Rundown Best Overall: Apple 6ft. Lightning to USB-A at Amazon It's 6 feet long, which means it'll be able to reach just about anywhere you might need it. Best Official: Apple 3ft. Lightning to USB at Amazon It will work perfectly with your iPhone or iPad, just as Apple wants it to. Best Braided: YUNGSONG 6ft. Lightning to USB-A (3-pack) at Amazon Our reviewer found them to feel more study than official iPhone cables. Best Budget: Amazon Basics Lightning Cable at Amazon You get a simple and reinforced USB-A connector on one end and a lightning connector on the other end of this MFi-certified cable. Best Multi-Cable: USAMS Multi-Charging Cable at Amazon You can basically charge any phone or accessory with this one cable. Best Fast Charger: Quntis PD Charger and Lightning to USB-C Cable at Amazon The included 18W charger allows for fast charging and data transfer speeds. in this article Expand Our Picks About Our Trusted Experts FAQs What to Look for in an iPhone Lightning Cable Best Overall: Apple 6ft. Lightning to USB-A 4.5 View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Long cable Durable Comes directly from Apple What We Don't Like Hard to keep clean Difficult to manage Apple Lightning to USB Cable (6-Foot) Review Our top pick comes directly from the source. Apple does indeed make and sell its own cables. The general rule of thumb, especially when dealing with Apple products, is to go with the manufacturer's accessories. Apple is able to build these cables so they work perfectly with all of their products. From the power outlet on your wall to the phone, Apple can design these cables so they work in the best possible way. 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 "The Apple Lightning to USB Cable (6 foot) is the cream of the crop when you need a top-notch and reliable charging cable for your iPhone and other Apple devices." — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester Lifewire / Yoona Wagener Best Official: Apple 3ft. Lightning to USB 4.5 View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Verizon What We Like Durable First-party cable What We Don't Like Hard to keep clean Apple Lightning to USB Cable (3-Foot) Review This cable is the exact same one as our top pick, but it's half the length. Making the cable shorter can make it easier to manage, but at the cost of versatility. A 1-meter cable is best suited for your nightstand or your desk. The shorter length means that there isn't so much cable getting in the way, but it also means there's less play when you're using the phone while charging. 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 natural to expect consistent charging from this official accessory, and this cord delivers." — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester Lifewire / Yoona Wagener Best Braided: YUNGSONG 6ft. Lightning to USB-A iPhone Charger (3-pack) 4.2 View On Amazon View On EBay What We Like Inexpensive Durable build Three-pack What We Don't Like Not MiFi certified No warranty YUNSONG iPhone Charger Review YUNSONG has a three-pack of iPhone lightning cables if you're looking to save a few bucks. These cables are not MFi certified, but they're very inexpensive and sturdy. The cables are made with an aluminum alloy sheathing and braided nylon and feel super strong. Our reviewer found them to feel more study than official iPhone cables, both in the feel of the cable and the connectors on each end. 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 "If you like to have backup charging cords in your car and travel bag, this product could suffice." — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester Lifewire / Yoona Wagener Best Budget: Amazon Basics Lightning Cable 6 Feet 4.8 View On Amazon What We Like MFi certified Reinforced connectors Inexpensive (for MFi cables) Grip texture on the connectors What We Don't Like Not very flexible AmazonBasics Lightning Cable Review Amazon Basics is one of the good names in cables. It's what the name suggests—basic. There are no frills here. You get a simple and reinforced USB-A connector on one end and a lightning connector on the other end of this MFi-certified cable. Considering the cable is MFi certified, the price is right—it's less expensive than Apple's own cables. 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 "AmazonBasics’s budget Lightning cable is a great choice for those looking to save on their charger as long as you keep your expectations modest." — Jason Schneider, Product Tester Lifewire / Jason Schneider Best Multi-Cable: USAMS Multi-Charging Cable (2-pack) View On Amazon View On EBay What We Like Four chargers in one You can charge any smartphone What We Don't Like Not MFi certified Cables are short If you have multiple devices that you need to charge, this multi-cable charger from USAMS might be a good solution for you. Near the end of the cable, it splits into four different cables—two lightning cables, one USB-C, and one microUSB. You can basically charge any phone or accessory with this one cable. Each of the ends is a little on the short side, so your devices will have to be near one another, but aside from that, it's really handy. 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 7 Best Charging Stations of 2021 Best Fast Charger: Quntis PD Charger and Lightning to USB-C Cable (18W) 3.5 View On Amazon View On EBay What We Like Included 18W wall charger Fast charging and data What We Don't Like Questionable MFi certification Quntis PD Charger and Lightning to USB-C Cable Review Apple may not include a charger in the box, but Quntis does. It's an 18W charger to be precise, and it allows for fast charging and data transfer speeds. Quntis advertises this cable and charger as being MFi certified, but we couldn't independently verify this using Apple's MFi certification database. The charging pair is highly rated on Amazon, though, so it's probably safe to use. 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 "One thing the Quntis PD Fast Charger and Cable does have going for it is performance." — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester The 6 Best Car Chargers of 2021 Lifewire / Yoona Wagener Final Verdict Overall, our best recommendation has to be Apple's own charging cable (view at Amazon). Apple delivers quality, and it does indeed come at a premium price. But you can't argue with using the manufacturer's own products. Who knows the iPhone and what it's capable of better than Apple, after all? If you prefer something a little less expensive, it's hard to go wrong with Amazon Basics (view at Amazon). The cable is MFi certified so you get that peace of mind. Plus, it's inexpensive compared to the first-party cables. The connectors are also a little bigger, so they're easier to grab when plugging in and unplugging, which you'll appreciate if you have to do that often. About Our Trusted Experts Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade. When he's not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he's playing with the latest phones, tablets, and laptops. When not working, he's a cyclist, geocacher, and spends as much time outside as he can. 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. Jason Schneider has been writing for Lifewire since 2019 and specializes in iPhone accessories. He tested the AmazonBasics lightning cable on our list, praising it as a solid budget option. FAQs Can you use the same cable to charge and to transfer data to your computer?In most cases, yes. MFi certification is important here, since that will ensure the cable is data ready. You'll read more about MFi certification down below, but suffice it to say it's important. Most cables will work for both data and power, but not all of them. Pay attention to reviews if you're not sure. Can you use any of these cables to get your phone's video on a TV?For the most part, these cables will not help you get your iPhone's picture onto a TV. For that, you'll want to use a wireless protocol such as Airplay if your TV is compatible. Otherwise, for a wired solution, you can use Apple's Digital AV adapter, but there are better ways to spend your money. There are a number of less expensive lightning to HDMI adapters you can pick up as well. What wall outlet should you use to charge?Any wall plug that has the right kind of connector will charge your phone. The real question is speed. You can use the USB-A ports on your computer, or pick up any third-party wall plug to charge up your phone. Some wall outlets also have built-in USB-A ports. Bottom line, if you have a plug with the right kind of connector, you'll be able to charge your phone. Lifewire / Yoona Wagener 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. "The most common point of failure for many iPhone Lightning Cables is the connection point between the cable itself and the endpoint connector. Avoid excessive bending of this section of the cable and never disconnect Lightning Cables by pulling from the middle section of the cord. Additionally, avoid situations where furniture or other hardware presses against a connected Lightning Cable especially if this applied force causes the cable to bend at a 90 degree angle." — Weston Happ, Product Development Manager, MerchantMaverick.com 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. Lifewire / Yoona Wagener Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit