iPhone 5 chargers

[Merseysider]

If swearing was allowed on the forum then this one would be a lot easier!

I've now purchased my 10th Apple iPhone 5 charger, having had several refunded and replaced previously. Has anybody else had such bad luck?

They're flimsy, don't stand up to being packed in briefcases or pockets and are ridiculously expensive for a simple bit of cable. Remove the charger from the phone just a tiny bit too forcibly and it breaks!

The previous model (iPhone 4) had better chargers available; they were more sturdy and I only needed about 5 in the space of two years. Sometimes I regret even upgrading in the first place because the chargers break at the most inconvenient times and are quite frankly total cr rubbish.

Anybody got any ideas for alternative brands of iPhone 5 cables that have a longer lifespan?

/Rant

 

[Nym]

For fear of being unhelpful, purchase a phone with a standard Micro USB socket for charging and data?

If it's the construction of each you've tried, it's likely to be a weakness in that pattern, would an iPhone 6 charger fit in the same planform?

 

[Merseysider]

For fear of being unhelpful, purchase a phone with a standard Micro USB socket for charging and data?

If it's the construction of each you've tried, it's likely to be a weakness in that pattern, would an iPhone 6 charger fit in the same planform?

Well my contract runs out late summer so a new phone is on the horizon! Ideally it'd be one compatible with wireless charging

I agree that it's a weakness in the design; Apple staff never looked surprised when I took the cable in and it's also got pretty poor reviews online. I could get myself an adaptor and then a standard micro-USB socket for this phone I suppose.

 

[bb21]

My sister had 7 exchanges in two years with the iPhone 5 charger despite taking extra care, so you are not alone.

I told her that was the price to pay for not listening to me.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's a pity Apple didn't use a Magsafe-style connection which avoids that kind of problem. While it has the standard micro USB as IMO all phones should have, I have a Sony Xperia and it also has a magnetic charger connection, and it's really good as you can be quite rough with it without damage.

 

[Geezertronic]

I have hardly ever had an issue with official (and expensive) Apple cables but always had issues with the cheap cables. Sometimes you get what you pay for

Only issues with Apple cables have been when the kids use their iPhone or iPad when on charge and bend the cables

 

[Mojo]

I (touch wood) haven't had any sort of problem with my official cable, but tend to have to replace the one from the pound shop every four months.

Also, if you get yours from John Lewis it comes with a two year guarantee rather than the standard Apple 1 year. So this should keep you going throughout the contract life of your telephone.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Are are talking about the connector rather than the charger itself?

I've never heard anyone talk about having a broken plug or socket with the older Apple 30-pin connector, but I know several people who have had a broken 8-pin (iPhone 5 and later) "Lightning" connector. It doesn't seem to be as robust, and the damn things have a chip incorporated to make sure that if you buy a cheapo replacement it has limited functionality.

I agree about the magnetic connectors - Apple have used them on their laptops for years but they are only for charging the battery whereas the iPhone connectors do a lot more.

 

[jon0844]

Well, Apple has now ditched MagSafe on the new MacBook, and USB-C will ultimately replace Thunderbolt and Lightning connectors.

I think it's good to finally have Apple adopt an international standard, but MagSafe for laptops is such a good idea it's mad to have ditched it in favour of a single USB-C port. Especially as USB-C will take a while to get established.

Many new phones in the second half of the year will switch to USB-C, so perhaps Apple will on the iPhone 6s...

 

[headshot119]

I've got two lightning cables, one from my iPad, and one from my iPhone 5S, never had a problem with either and I've had the iPad one for nearly 2 years, and iPhone for 18 months.

 

[Spamcan81]

If swearing was allowed on the forum then this one would be a lot easier!

I've now purchased my 10th Apple iPhone 5 charger, having had several refunded and replaced previously. Has anybody else had such bad luck?

They're flimsy, don't stand up to being packed in briefcases or pockets and are ridiculously expensive for a simple bit of cable. Remove the charger from the phone just a tiny bit too forcibly and it breaks!

The previous model (iPhone 4) had better chargers available; they were more sturdy and I only needed about 5 in the space of two years. Sometimes I regret even upgrading in the first place because the chargers break at the most inconvenient times and are quite frankly total cr rubbish.

Anybody got any ideas for alternative brands of iPhone 5 cables that have a longer lifespan?

/Rant

My partner has had no problems with her iPhone 5 charger so just how badly have you been treating yours?

 

[Crossover]

A few people at work have iPhones with Lightning chargers - biggest problem is them (cables) getting lost and I've not heard of any breaking. I've got an iPad with one too, but after 3 months of having it, I'm probably not best placed to advise on charger longevity

My 30 pin cable I have from an iPod Touch from about 5 years ago is still working although the weak point of the point where a plug meets the cable is noted as the internal cables are slightly exposed. This is a common issue I believe

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've never heard anyone talk about having a broken plug or socket with the older Apple 30-pin connector

I've broken one, but it was to be fair used in the car and treated very roughly.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well, Apple has now ditched MagSafe on the new MacBook, and USB-C will ultimately replace Thunderbolt and Lightning connectors.

I think it's good to finally have Apple adopt an international standard, but MagSafe for laptops is such a good idea it's mad to have ditched it in favour of a single USB-C port. Especially as USB-C will take a while to get established.

While I have (and am very pleased with) a previous generation MacBook Pro, I wouldn't buy the new one, as I don't want a device that I can't leave on the charger while using a USB device (e.g. a memory stick) in it. I think only having one port (rather than two) was a very bad move on Apple's part. I also suspect they will reverse the decision and the next version will have 2 USB-C ports.

That said, MagSafe is *very* good.

 

[Merseysider]

My sister had 7 exchanges in two years with the iPhone 5 charger despite taking extra care, so you are not alone.

I told her that was the price to pay for not listening to me.

Glad to hear it's not just me!

My partner has had no problems with her iPhone 5 charger so just how badly have you been treating yours?

Good question. I'll admit I snapped one of the damn things on purpose because "This accessory might not be supported" kept appearing over and over despite it being an official charger. It deserved it.

But I've had cables fail to work despite being in the same position for literally 72 hours straight and getting about 12 hours' use.

I've found that they really do not like being bent, especially near either end. If I included the amount of £1 cables I've had to purchase as emergency stopgaps the figure would probably be closer to 20.

 

[jon0844]

I think only having one port (rather than two) was a very bad move on Apple's part. I also suspect they will reverse the decision and the next version will have 2 USB-C ports.

That said, MagSafe is *very* good.

Yes, I believe the next MacBook will have at least two ports. I'm told that the chipset had a limitation, and required an extra chip for the second port - and as you might have seen from Apple's own images, there's a VERY tiny PCB inside.

The new MacBook is pretty much just a tablet with fixed keyboard, but running OSX instead of iOS (and no touchscreen). It looks nice, but I really do hope they don't make any silly mistakes with the next Pro and Air models.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The new MacBook is pretty much just a tablet with fixed keyboard, but running OSX instead of iOS (and no touchscreen). It looks nice, but I really do hope they don't make any silly mistakes with the next Pro and Air models.

My concern is that it's intended to replace both the Pro and Air, which with such connectivity limitations it won't.

(I know the future is wireless, and we all said that about floppy drives, then optical drives, but there are still a lot of things that need plugging in that people won't replace until they break - projector, GPS watch for running, backup drive etc)

 

[jon0844]

It might replace the Air, but I think the Pro will exist for a while. The MacBook is a pretty low spec, and not capable of doing even what a good MacBook Air can do, let alone the power of a Pro.

But Apple is doing some weird things of late, and getting increasingly arrogant about things.

History suggests all companies get complacent and arrogant and then, well you know what usually happens.

 

[Abpj17]

I've just got a generic non-apple one and it's fine.

I've had issues with apple chargers for macbooks, ipads and iphones the wire casing is quite soft - and as you say - simply doesn't last if packed in bags etc. Once they've frayed to the point of exposing wires it gets dangerous and I've resorted to buying replacements. On the plus side - there are generic iphone chargers available cheaply. That doesn't seem to be the case for the magsafe/macbook ones [at least not in the UK]

 

[Haydn1971]

I've started using "branded" third party cables but still use the Apple chargers though. I'd strongly advise against buying a grey market charger due to the risks of manufacturing faults and lack of device testing that increases the risk of electrical / fire incidents. Remember folks, whilst you sleep, a fault in the charger could turn your home into a fireball with you and your loved ones in there.

 

[D365]

It might replace the Air, but I think the Pro will exist for a while. The MacBook is a pretty low spec, and not capable of doing even what a good MacBook Air can do, let alone the power of a Pro.

Remember when the MBA came out in 2008, the original sans-optical drive - I still have one in my family. At the time it too was low-spec, it was not capable the same as the polycarbonate MacBook of the time.

Three years later, even when it still couldn't quite match the specs, albeit closer in performance, the traditional MacBook was phased out. The 2015 MacBook Retina isn't a first for Apple and I anticipate, more likely than not, that the story will repeat itself.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I thought Apple's plan all along was to phase out the Macbook and just continue with the Air and Pro models. It's odd that they've chosen to reintroduce it.

 

[D365]

I thought Apple's plan all along was to phase out the Macbook and just continue with the Air and Pro models. It's odd that they've chosen to reintroduce it.

The 2015 edition is nothing like the MacBook of old. Name is all they share; 'MacBook' has been reintroduced to differentiate the new model because the Retina will only supplement the line-up for the moment. As the MacBook Air did when it was first introduced.

I've started using "branded" third party cables but still use the Apple chargers though. I'd strongly advise against buying a grey market charger due to the risks of manufacturing faults and lack of device testing that increases the risk of electrical / fire incidents. Remember folks, whilst you sleep, a fault in the charger could turn your home into a fireball with you and your loved ones in there.

There's a great selection of third-party cables out there for far better value than the stock Apple cable: look for those under the "Made for iPhone" banner. Saying that though, my family has amassed a multitude of Apple chargers and cables, and has rarely had to purchase any additional.

About chargers and the rightly-maligned counterfeits which have gained quite some attention in China, this article is great in demonstrating the dangers.

 

[Haydn1971]

Just to be clear, when I use the term grey market, I'm not talking about the "branded" chargers, I'm specifically talking about ebay and market stall specials. Great article btw

 

[CC 72100]

I'm on my 3rd cable now. On my first one the plastic coating came off, leaving exposed wires, which when it was just a tiny bit was covered up with sellotape but now it's a bit dangerous so got retired.

My second cable had performed fine, until the 30-pin end became a little 'loose'. One day, when yanking the cable out of the bottom of my phone, the cable came out by the 30-pin plastic connector stayed in my phone. Oops.

Now on cable 3, which should tide me over until I replace the phone in the summer. 3 cables in 4 and a quarter years - no idea if that's good or not.

On a sidenote, the actual charger plug has been and still is perfectly fine!

 

[jon0844]

I thought Apple's plan all along was to phase out the Macbook and just continue with the Air and Pro models. It's odd that they've chosen to reintroduce it.

It seems that Tim Cook is taking Apple in a bit of a different direction. It seems that Apple isn't so interested in the professional market, but going specifically after the trendy hipster student types, who probably add up to much higher numbers and are increasingly profitable - especially in new markets for Apple like China for iOS devices.

The watch will be another attempt to appeal to these people, as well as whatever it decides to do with Beats.

There are still rumours about an iPad Pro, but that seems to keep getting delayed and for all intents and purposes, the new MacBook is pretty much what you could have expected to be an iPad (with a touchscreen).

I do wonder what's going on at times, especially as the ego of Mr Ive threatens to do major harm as he speaks with increasing arrogance, along the lines of 'hey, if we put in a better battery the phone would look rubbish'.

 

[Kite159]

The profit margin on the 'consumer' devices might be less than the margin on the 'professional' devices, but when the sales of the consumer devices are a lot greater than the professional devices you can see why apple are pushing for even greater sales.

Remember 'anti-virus' software isn't available (to a CNET news story last week) to iOS, as Apple thinks it's unbeatable.