Has anyone else had any issues with their lightning connectors? I just bought an iPad 4 two weeks ago, and unfortunately the lightning connector broke off inside the iPad last night. I took it to the Apple Store, and they charged me $300 for a replacement iPad.
It appears that the lightning connector is significantly more flimsy and fragile than the old wide connector. Please be careful!
iPad
If you were to look at the reviews and ratings for this cable, you'll see that there are many people who disagree that Apple has produced a high quality cable:
http://store.apple.com/ca/reviews/MD818ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable?page=0
My experience hasn't been great either, with my cable splitting at the 8 pin end within four months of purchasing my iPad 4. When I took it to the Apple store both the salesperson on the floor and the Genius Bar rep automatically accused me of mishandling the cord by pulling it out by the cable rather than at the connector--something which I did not do. I was told that they didn't split that easily, but after reading all the reviews, I think that the just don't want to admit that Apple has made such an inferior product.
You may be just one of the lucky ones whose cable is made a bit sturdier. . . either that or your a loyal employee of Apple. ;-)
Was it an original Apple connector? I bought a knock off on eBay, and the plastic housing pulled off, leaving the connector in the phone. I was able to remove it no problem, but it gave me a scare for a moment.
I have an iPad Mini, owned for 1 month. Same problem, when removing the lightning connection, the connector separated and remained inside the iPad Mini. When showing to The Apple Store Genius Bar, they said they had never heard of this problem, and told me it would be $220 to replace the device. This is absurd. I am a full in Apple ecosystem customer, but seriously questioning the recent quality, and lack of customer care for such an expensive purchase, and loyal customer.
Dah•veed - I disagree. Because the area to be gripped is so small, I think one could easily accidentally pull a little off center and break it in doing so. I also could see the housing coming off on an authentic Apple connector. I'm very careful with mine now. I like the old connector much better. I never had a problem with it, and even the original Apple lightning connectors sometimes don't connect properly and I have to flip one and try again.
Same thing has also happened to me. I also attempted to get the iPad replaced because it is still under manufacter's warranty but Apple wanted to charge me $220. I refuse to pay this when the lightening connector is faulty. Apple insists that there was physical damage to the iPad and won't replace it. The iPad is in preistine condition and no abuse or misuse to the iPad occured. Again, this is faulty equipment and Apple refused to anknowledge this. As a loyal Apple customer, the best they can do is say "oh sorry you are frustrated." Wow, how amazing. I am not a happy Apple customer and Apple customer service should be ashamed of themselves.
Exactly the same here! I'm so annoyed. I have to pay almost the same as new as replacement. Ashaming.
Just because "they don't want to open it". Do we have to sell it for pieces? Do we have to find an "alternative" technical service? I have a Mini I had an Air that lasted just 2 years and now this. I'll never buy anything else from the Exclusive Apple. This exclusiveness is always a problem when something gets wrong. Kind regards.
I had the same problem, the connector broke off and Apple refuses to replace/fix it. I tried the superglue trick, but I should have done that before Apple tried to fix it. Now it is probable more stuck than before. Apple in thailand wants to charge me over 400 dollars to repair it. This type of connector is to small and fragile for the normal size iPads. Very bad design by Apple. Will never buy another iPad with this kind of connector!
Finally I did some "googgling" looking for an unofficial service. I found some very professional company that repaired the ipad in 48 hours (with the two urgent shippings) and they charged me about 100$. I hope you'll find also a professional service too. (Because it isn't the Apple case).
It was the same Lightning connector that came in the box with my iPad. I wish I had taken photos of it, but the Apple Store required me to hand it over in order to get a new one (which saved me $30). So they essentially agreed that the Lightning connector was defective and replaced it for free -- but the iPad that was ruined because the connector broke off inside was on me. :-P
If you actually take a Lightning connector apart, the metal on the sides is very thin. It's easy to see how it could get broken with very little force -- like if you have trouble getting it to seat properly.
Dan -- I wish I had taken it to one of those phone/tablet repair stores that are popping up all over the place. It potentially would have voided the warranty on the iPad, but likely would have cost a lot less. My guess is that they might have been able to pry the broken piece out -- maybe without even opening the iPad up.
Unfortuantely I needed the iPad immediately to test an app we were developing. I didn't have time to wait on a repair.
Good luck!
Smarkle,
I wish I would have had the same experience that you had with Apple stating the lightening connector was faulty. I also tried to state this to the rep over the Internet and in person to the genius bar and they refused to listen stating that the iPad was "abused". I purchased a replacement iPad at a discounted price.
Others on the posts: It could very well be faulty - my daughter also reported that she went to unplug the connector and that it had snapped off. There is no way she could have physically broken it off seeing as though she's only 11 years old. If the connector was made properly it should be impossible to snap off, as one other person on this post stated.
Don't bother attempting to take the iPad apart. It does not do any good. The connector is encased in a conduit so it is impossible to force the broken peice out from the backside of the conduit. It is completely enclosed by a metal casing. The only way to get the broken peice out is with very small pliers. If you get lucky enough, and obviously have the right tools you can grab it with the tool and slowly pull it out. I do not recommend the super glue trick. It just forces the peice further in when you attempt to take the remaing wired peice and press it into the broken off peice. Not a good thing. I tried everything and anything I could on find based on suggestions over the Internet. I even took the iPad to my jeweler who did not even have a small enough tool to reach up there and pull the broken off peice.
Again, I chalk it up to a faulty connector, but ufortunately Apple won't own up to that. My connector was the original connector that came in the box when the iPad was gifted Christmas 2012.
What your 11 your old daughter is likely failing to tell you is how she was using the iPad with the cable attached and in her lap. The connector broke from shearing forces exerted from behind the connector.
I have two lightening connector cables and I have purposely tried to break one of them off with my bare hands and it can't be done.
Or....
The piece fell off 'after' the connector fell apart. You cannot presume to know what happened, you are not all seeing all knowing.
It would be interesting to see if these would be considered to have fallen apart due to fair wear and tear (UK consumer rights act). I think it is reasonable to assume that people will need to remove the cable from the device to transport it as it is a 'mobile' device, therefore the designers should have made it more robust OR provided a suitable size to grip the connector with.
I am getting ready to leave the country in the morning. I treat all of my electronics with great care and I cannot believe what just happened. I was charging my iPad and went to unplug it and the connecter simply and easily snapped off leaving the broken end inside the port. Oh my God! What am I going to do? All of my trip plans and notes are on that iPad. I cannot believe that it broke that easily.
Da Veed, you are completely clueless.
Dah.veed,
Even if she had it in her lap, how much force could possibly be exerted to snap off a metal piece? I'm sorry, I disagree that she exerted that much force while it was inside the device, and sitting in her lap, to snap it off. It just seems highly unlikely. But, obviously we all have our differing opinions as to what may have happened and I can agree that she may be covering herself as to what actually happened.
The picture posted by skmcg6 is not what happened to my daugthers; if it had at least there is enough of the peice remaining so that it can be pulled out of the device. These cables are not very sturdy. I purchased a replacement for my iphone 5 after the other one just stopped working. They apparently "short out" and no longer work after a few months (read the reviews on Amazon). I can assure you that I also took very good care of the cable. There are known issues with these cables (just Google it). You must treat them with kid gloves. Here's a better picture of what happened with my daughters (this post is by someone other than myself who also experienced the same problem):
Lightning connector broken off inside iPad?
