What happens to iPhone lightning cords?

Do they just stop working one day?  Do they communicate with each other using electronic pheromones and all go south together like a colony of ants?

I've had 3 cords start glitching in the last 2 days. All of them look undamaged (though they were used frequently)
 

I didn't know this was a wear item...

10 out of 10 lightning cables will break at the ends after a year of use. They are extremely fragile, while every other manufacturer has figured out to make them not suck. 

If only their was a connector that was faster, and stronger, that literally every other device except iphone uses.  Instead apple will use it for every other device except the iphone, and pretend it doesn't exist when they make it completely port free. 

Magsafe. Because being different is better. And 39.00. but that doesn't include the power block. So another 19.00. So 59.00 to charge your phone. 

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

Everything that consumes electrons is a wear item.

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

Same device? I had an iPhone SE suffer a port failure. Seems more likely than simultaneous cable failures.

Never had a Lightning cable break and we have two iPhones and two iPads that use them constantly. I think it's one of those things where taking just a little bit of care makes an enormous difference in lifespan. Yank at an angle, put side forces on it - that seems like it would be bad. I tend to treat the cables as if they were plugged in to something worth $400-1000.

I know USB C is the hotness now but when Lightning was introduced it was micro USB. I'm okay with a bit of consistency for a while since the only USB C stuff I have is Pi shaped, and even then only one model of Pi. At least everything that looks like a Lightning is a Lightning, unlike C and HDMI. 

Love the MagSafe on my 2012 MacBook. 

In the 8 years we've been using iPhails we have burned through a few cords. probably 4? I try to find them with the sturdiest looking ends to help longevity. 

I've never once had a Lightning cord or port failure. Nor have I had failure of any other cords. Take care of your things and exercise some mechanical sympathy (i.e. don't force them to bend at a 90+ degree angle right at the port) and they should last. 

There was a period of time where the old 30-pin cords and MacBook MagSafe power cords were having the white rubber sheathing fray off and expose the actual wires underneath. That was roughly 10 years ago and from what I recall in my time as an Apple Store employee, we'd usually cover replacements even if the device affected was out of warranty. If it was in warranty, the cord was covered as part of the device's plan.

Is it for your phone?  I bet there's a 75% chance the port on your phone is packed full of pocket lint.  Take a wooden toothpick and dig around in there.  I bet it fixes the problem.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Micro USB sucked. But 4 years ago phones started moving to USB c. 4 years of lightning after C was widely adopted is 4 years too many. When it comes to charging, USB c is USB c. I can charge my phone with my laptop charger, or anything else c shaped. 5v is 5v. 

In our house it's probably a tie between cords leaving the house and getting left at a friend's house maybe somewhere but who knows really and being bent so many times that they just wear out.  Honestly, I'm surprised they last as long as they do, since they are used constantly by teenagers.  I just put a couple of the "Amazon Basics" ones in my cart every time I place an order.  If there's one in every room and a couple behind the couch, you'll always have one when you need it.

In reply to Keith Tanner and Duke:

Good logic, but swapping to a different cord solved the problem (and it was multiple devices), so no.

I've never had one fail before.  Over 10 years of hard abuse.  
 

1 of them was only a couple month's old, but it was an aftermarket, so there is that...

Yeah, but what if you need a data cable and all you have is a charging cable that is identical on the outside? Annoying as hell. Identical form factors should mean identical function. USB C has a fundamental flaw if it's trying to be more than a two-wire 5v power supply.

Don't you remember the complaints when the 30 pin was dropped? Simply following the latest trend is a good way to annoy customers, there has to be a solid and long-term plan in place. You might get a new phone every two years and consider 4 years to be a lifetime but not everyone does. 

I can't charge my phone with my laptop charger but if I have my laptop charger I have my laptop, and I can charge my phone from it. Otherwise I'd have a small phone charger which is a lot smaller than a laptop power brick. 

You guys realize that MagSafe has been replaced, right?

Newer MacBooks come with USB-C. 
 

Sure wish my phone and iPad had it...

SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:

You guys realize that MagSafe has been replaced, right?

Newer MacBooks come with USB-C. 
 

Sure wish my phone and iPad had it...

It's back. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Not sure I understand...

My USB-C power cable for my MacBook IS a data cable. Same cable does both functions. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Huh. Didn't realize that. 

In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :

Yes, a data cable is a charging cable. But charging-only cables are also common and they appear identical. Why are they not all data cables? Excellent question. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Huh. I've never seen a charging-only USB-C cable.

I've never had a cable not work as a data cable. I've had them not work for high speed charging, but that's it. I own about 20 USB c cables, and 10ish USB c devices. 

Magsafe is back, and the future of iphone charging. Strong rumors suggest the next iphone will be port free. 

USB c is not a trend. Its a phenomenal cable that every device should have. Significantly stronger than lightning, light-years better than micro, and same thing with speed/charging. You're drinking the Kool aid if you think apple is resisting adopting a standard charger, for reasons other than making more money. 

SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Huh. I've never seen a charging-only USB-C cable.

They are pretty common in battery power stuff that doesn't use data. I've come across a few and I throw them out when I do because, like Keith, I find them annoying as hell. 

If anyone wants a charging only C cable, I can provide one :) The specification allows for it. They're common enough that Adafruit Feathers come with a warning to make sure not to use charge-only cables as then there will be no data flow and that's why your device isn't registering with your computer. I suspect they're not as common as they used to be. 

I remember when micro was the phenomenal choice and why doesn't Apple use it instead of Lightning like all the other phones? What goes around comes around. Apple not changing their connector saves me money because I can keep using the same cables and my FLIR camera continues to work. When they go to something else, that's when I'll have to spend. 

I had this happen. 4 identical cables, all from a reputable brand, quit working overnight. Visually they're fine. Tested on 3 different iphones. I blame Apple. 

In any case, for the past 3 years, I've taken a different approach to charging cables. I have an alert on Amazon for when 12-packs of their 4 inch cables go on sale. If you watch, you can get it for less than $30. Then, get some 6 and 10 foot USB Extension cords. The extension cords never fail. The lightning cables, eventually, do fail, but at that price it works out to a point that I am not upset by it. 

SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Huh. I've never seen a charging-only USB-C cable.

I have a couple.  At work I sometimes charge my phone from my USB hub on the desk.  It was getting frustrating that every time I charged it tried to connect it as a drive.  Charge-only cord solved the issue.

They are a common thing in USB-powered devices.  When you buy a portable battery pack, a vape pen, or something like a toy that charges on USB, the cord they include is often a charge-only to save a few pennies.

In reply to mtn :

That's a pretty good idea 

Mom has an iPad right now that is doing a similar thing.  She has several bricks and cords; one for the car, one by her desk, one in the camper, etc.  Hers is apparently having both port and cable issues  Some cords don't work at all, some work sometimes, but none of them work always.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Since when does Apple not change their connector?  The last 3 MacBooks I've had were all different. We have 3 separate MacBooks around the house, and none of us can share cables. 
 

I would say the exact opposite. Apple is really annoying with how frequent they change their connectors.