Teenagers and Lightning Cable Mortality

2018-12-07 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: USB, weather events

It’s my annual comeuppance for having 3 teenagers—the batch of Lightning cables I ordered a bit over a year ago are all toast—except those I use.

I don’t know how they manage to keep destroying the high quality NewerTech Lightning cables, but the Apple Lightning cables don’t stand a chance at all.

So, time to order some more. Available lengths are 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 meters with 5 color choices.

The main issue seems to be strain relief. Kids and family just seem to think cables are some piece of rope or whatever!

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Fazal M writes:

Ha! Not just teenagers, my wife’s lightning cables also have a half-life of around 6 months.

In the case of Apple cables, it has to do with the inadequate strain relief that hack Jony Ive “designed”.

The OWC Newer Tech cables seem to have the same defective design, you might want to try Anker next.

I have noticed my wife will often leave the phone in such a position the cable is fully tensioned and the strain relief, well, straining at a 90-degree angle or worse, which obviously does no wonders for durability. Other habits like jamming them in drawers so the edge of the drawer impacts the insulation when it’s closed, and other general mistreatment no cable will survive unless it’s armored in kevlar.

You can extend the life somewhat by slipping a section of heat-shrink tubing (the kind with heat-activated glue inside to provide a water-proof seal) on top of a fraying strain relief. Ugly, but effective.

My own cables, like yours, never have a problem.

MPG: I’ve orderded a few Anker Powerline+ II Lightning Cable @AMAZON to have my family “test” them, as they look to have very good integral strain relief. If they’re not destroyed in 6 months, that's a testimonial.