Apple Lightning to USB Cable, 3-FT

If you’re an avid iPhone user, you don’t have to sold on its uses. These pocket-sized supercomputers can shoot video, play games, give you directions and even make actual phone calls. Still, they’re all paperweights without power.

That’s why a good charging cord is just as vital as the iPhone itself. And while there’s still only one connector that will charge your smartphone, there’s still some variety in your options.

For new iPhone users, the most crucial thing is to make sure you’re buying the right charger. As of their latest version, iPhones and many iPads all use charging cords in a format called the Lightning cable. The Lightning cable was introduced in 2012 and has been the standard for most Apple products since the iPhone 5. The exceptions here are the iPod which uses a 30-pin connector and the newest iPad Pro, which charges up via a USB-C.

Lightning cables relatively easy to recognize compared to USB cables or other chargers. They are small and thin at the connection point, with 8 pins that are not only a conduit for power but data. They’re reversible, which means there is no way to plug them in “upside-down.” Either end will work. If you’re using them to transfer photos or other data off your phone, the data speeds tend to be around 480 Mbps.

• iPhone chargers tend to see a lot of use in a lot of different locations, so consider buying one with some kind of extra protection around the cord. Braided nylon is a good material for this, and you might find cords that even sheath the cable in Kevlar or steel fibers.
• While Apple is the only company that makes an iPhone, you’ll find plenty of third-party manufacturers churning out iPhone chargers. If quality is a concern, look for an “MFi-certified” designation. That stands for “Made For iPhone,” and such products have been cleared by Apple’s own quality control standards.