Is there a difference between the Lightning to USB included with an iPhone 5 and the one sold separately?

Question

Is there a difference between the Lightning to USB included with an iPhone 5 and the one sold separately?

I recently purchased 2 iPhone 5's and two Lightning to USB cables in addition to the ones that came with the phones. We tried to use the first L to USB with the power adapter and it wouldn't work. Then today I tried to use the second L to USB in my macbook pro and it came up with the USB too much power error, so I tried to use it with the power adapter and it wouldn't charge. So I got the L to USB that came in the phone box and it works with my laptop and the power adapter? It just seems weird that 2 out of 2 cables wouldn't work.

Items used:

MacBook Pro 17" Mid 2010

iPhone 5 (2 different ones)

Lightning to USB Cable (sold separate) (2 different ones)

Lightning to USB Cable (included in phone box)

iMac

5V USB Power adapter (2 different ones)

iPhone 5, iOS 6.0.2

Posted on Jan 16, 2013 7:17 AM

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Answer 1

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Jan 16, 2013 7:23 AM in response to NicholePoindexter

Return them.

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Answer 2

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Jan 16, 2013 7:48 AM in response to NicholePoindexter

That's a risk when buying El Cheapo brand stuff. AFAIK, the Lightning standard is Apple-proprietary and they are very restrictive whom they license to. So if the price points were drastically different, your cheap cables will probably be pirate/nonstandard items.

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Answer 3

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 16, 2013 7:59 AM in response to NicholePoindexter

Sig has good advice...

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Answer 4

Jan 16, 2013 10:44 AM in response to Courcoul

Apple brand cables from the Verizon store.

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Answer 5

Jan 16, 2013 10:45 AM in response to Lexiepex

Planning on returning them, just hoping someone had an idea why they didn't work so I could find out what I actually need.

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Answer 6

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Jan 16, 2013 10:49 AM in response to NicholePoindexter

You need a pair of good cables, period. When I got my i5 and seeing what a battery hog it is, immediately got a second Lightning cable from an Apple Dealer. Both that and the one in the box have worked flawlessly.

So yeah, you've got excellent arguments for demanding a good working set. The fact that one gives the dread "too much power" issue is indicative of an internal short or damage.

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