I'm sick & tired of buying new cables!

Apple's IPad/ IPhone cables are not just inferior but downright dangerous. For the third time since I bought my latest IPad my cable has come away from the end exposing live wires. I had found a marvellous "Apple approved" cable on Amazon which was much sturdier but it stopped working after the last update. Now I'm stuck with the third-rate Apple cr@p.

Factoring in the cost of constantly replacing the cable ( £25 x 6 per year) plus cost of the unit £399 means Apple are too expensive. I'm migrating back to Microsoft and am going to give their Surface a try.

Shame on you Apple!

I am using one of these cables on my iPad Pro right now.

My iPad Pro is running iOS 10.1.1

Excellent cable for the price.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/CBLUSBL2MW/

Have you tried a hard reset of your iPad by holding down both the Home and sleep/wake buttons simultaneously until your iPad goes to black and restarts with Apple logo, then release the buttons?

Then retry your better quality cable.

Was the cable you purchased from Amazon Apple MFi cerified?

Good Luck!

Have you tried other cable manufacturers such as Kensington, Belkin or Targus?

I tried a "hack" I read about by taking the coiled spring from an old biro pen, and winding it round the lead at the plug end. A bit tricky, but it seems to fit the purpose of taking the strain off the lead. I agree, however that they have us over a barrel with their RIDICULOUSLY overpriced leads- another example of monopoly capitalism at its worst..! They seem to want to drive us away..?

dogsdrool wrote:

... Apple-are you hearing me?

No Apple is not hearing you. This is a user-to-user support forum. Following is a link to give feedback to Apple http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

I would really like to know what you are doing to those cables?

So far I have never had to replace an Apple cable yet an that has been since the early nineties when I first started using Apple hardware.

Think of a really neat, but relatively very expensive new item..

Then think of a circle, with it being CRITICAL that at a certain point, its very, very strong.

For whatever reason, it's REALLY IMPORTANT that that specific point be durable, flexible and able to contribute to the item being "fit for the purpose for which it was purchased".

Then think about a giant international corporation, that wants to continually market new versions of the same expensive item.

Q: But how do you do that if everyone's very happy (thank-you-very-much) with what they've got?

A: You discover the SINGLE POINT in the circle, that's weakest. And build it in to the circuit.

Do you get my drift?

Welcome to America.

Like Allan, I've never had to replace any of my cables, and like you, I use them extensively. I plug my devices in and out at least twice a day. I use the same cable plugged into my computer to sync both of my devices and charge them twice a day. The cables are covered by the same manufacturer's warranty as the device you purchased it with. And, if you purchase a stand alone cable, it comes with a 1-year warranty as well. If your cable fails within the year, bring it back to Apple to see if they will replace it. The only way they won't is if the cable appears to have user abusive damage.

Either there's an issue here, or there isn't. The ongoing comments, and other anecdotal evidence, convinces me there is an issue.My experience having had my ipad for over a year, is that my cable hasn't broken. However, what I'm hearing far and wide is that due to the excessive use/ twisting, whatever, they don't always last the distance. In other words, there's a greater than chance probability that they WILL come adrift. Hence my belief is that they are, to use the legal parlance, NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

I don't actually believe that's necessarily the issue. The issue then is what happens next, and the excessive cost of the essential replacement (think students, and other young users of the product..)

I think the charge ($30 here in New Zealand), for a new cable- remembering there's still nothing wrong with the charger unit itself- is EXCESSIVE for what it is. No problem, I thought, I'll just buy a cheap one down the road at the local "$2 Shop", but no.. The Apple cable of course has something built into it that means you cannot buy a generic and cheaper cable. It just won't work the same. You're forced to buy the relatively expensive Apple number. For a length of cable, no more than 4 feet in length, I happen to think that what they charge is excessive. That's my only gripe!!

Why can't they either a/ strengthen the cables, (as I attempted with my quick fix of a spring from a ballpoint pen wound around the weak point), or b/ at least acknowledge there's an issue of sorts and rectify the problem at source?

I smell a rat and think Apple is quite happy to sit back secure in the knowledge that they have us over a barrel, and that this tiny length of cable is critical for the functioning of our expensive ipads! And I just happen to believe that's morally wrong..and the solution/ correction lies with them.

Then again, if/ when my cable breaks- well beyond the warranty period I guess, I'll try going back to the local Apple retailer and see if they'll replace it..Some feedback from others will convince me that Apple will look after us customers..At that point, everything I've written becomes null and void!

How have previous posters (Dogsdrool) got on with their approaches to Apple?

You can subscribe to conspiracy theories if you want, but as I said, if the cable is not lasting a year, then take it to Apple to have it replaced. If, you get one that lasts past a year and you purchase another one and it does not last a year, then take it to Apple and get it replaced. I think the issue here is people purchase new cables when they could get them replaced. While it may be a little more effort to visit Apple than going to the corner warehouse store and get a cheap replacement, you are getting what you pay for. Apple is protecting their products to ensure they are not damaged by inferior charging cables. I'm not sure why you would think they would replace the cable "well beyond the warranty period" as you state. That is why there is a stated warranty period.