HT201569: If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't charge

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Chamie7

Q: OK, I admit it.  I committed the unpardonable sin of buying a cheap lightning charging cable as opposed to the $20 ripoff one.  Will someone please explain to me what monumental difference exists between these cables?  Also - since having used the "b

OK, I admit it.  I committed the unpardonable sin of buying a cheap lightning charging cable as opposed to the $20 ripoff one.  Will someone please explain to me what monumental difference exists between these cables?  Also - since having used the "bogus" cable, my iPod will no longer charge with "bona-fide" cables.  The only thing it will charge on is a portable stereo dock with a old school to lightning adapter.  This is beyond unbelievable!

 

Is there some way to "restore" it back to pre bogus?

 

Thanks.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 5:00 PM

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Q: OK, I admit it.  I committed the unpardonable sin of buying a cheap lightning charging cable as opposed to the $20 ripoff one ... more

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  • by YakovM,

    YakovM YakovM Sep 8, 2016 5:04 PM in response to Chamie7
    Level 2 (306 points)
    Sep 8, 2016 5:04 PM in response to Chamie7

    The real problem with cheap cables is that they can damage your device. That's why Apple warns you when you connect 'non-compatible accessories.'

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Sep 8, 2016 5:04 PM in response to Chamie7
    Level 9 (57,249 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 8, 2016 5:04 PM in response to Chamie7

    You can try restoring the device, but it could be that the bogus cable has damaged the charging port. This cheap cable does not contain the chip to make it a MFi device, which can damage the device, the battery and the charging circuit. I'm guessing that you use of the word ripoff is referring to the Apple cable? Interesting way of referring to something when you are asking for help on the company's support forum.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 8, 2016 5:04 PM in response to Chamie7
    Level 9 (50,252 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 8, 2016 5:04 PM in response to Chamie7

    The difference is that the cheap ones don't always work correctly and can cause other problems, as you have found out the hard way

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 8, 2016 5:06 PM in response to Chamie7
    Level 8 (37,876 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2016 5:06 PM in response to Chamie7

    Chamie7 wrote:

     

    OK, I admit it.  I committed the unpardonable sin of buying a cheap lightning charging cable as opposed to the $20 ripoff one.  Will someone please explain to me what monumental difference exists between these cables?  Also - since having used the "bogus" cable, my iPod will no longer charge with "bona-fide" cables.  The only thing it will charge on is a portable stereo dock with a old school to lightning adapter.  This is beyond unbelievable!

     

    Is there some way to "restore" it back to pre bogus?

     

    Thanks.

    The bogus cable probably burned out the charging circuit in the phone. That's always a risk with cheap cables. It's not just a cable; there are 3 proprietary microcircuits in the lightning end of the cable. Apple and Made for iPhone certified cables have the correct parts. Cheap cable manufacturers can't afford them and don't care. They've got your money, and you've got a $300 repair to deal with.

  • by lkrupp,

    lkrupp lkrupp Sep 8, 2016 5:35 PM in response to Chamie7
    Level 5 (4,153 points)
    Sep 8, 2016 5:35 PM in response to Chamie7

    I bet you don’t think $20 is a ripoff now do you.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 8, 2016 5:37 PM in response to lkrupp
    Level 8 (37,876 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2016 5:37 PM in response to lkrupp

    "Penny wise and pound foolish" comes to mind. $20 to take proper care of an $800 phone should be a no-brainer.