Why you should use MFI certified charging cables!

While everyone loves a bargin.. and a cheap charging cord you grab at the checkout of any number of stores from a gas station to Walmart seems like you just saved big! Well, here at Mission Repair we are seeing more and more damaged iPhones and iPads that I believe the only issues are charging related. The customers claim no drops, liquid or any other situation that would cause damage has occurred yet their device won’t power on, won’t charge etc…

If you see brown spots or deformed wire covering (shown on the right in the picture below) which is likely from the cable producing excess heat… throw it away immediately!! If you’re in doubt about your $.99 cent cable.. toss it.

Lightening cables melting

So what could possibly be the issue? We work with several shops and share information. One, in particular, is highly skilled board specialists that continue to report various electronic components on the logic boards been burned up or “blown” like a fuse in your home or car. The reason would seem to point to faulty or cheap charging cables.

First and foremost I am not saying you must only buy Apple branded cables. Belkin, Griffin and multiple other accessory vendors sell legit cables that are “Apple/MFI certified” and have the proper IC chips in them to regulate voltage and not overcharge or burn out circuitry in your device. Follow this link tell if you have legit cables. This picture shows the chip at the end of the MFI certified cable, which many legitimate companies pay a fee to Apple to use. That fee alone is (last I heard) in the $5 range plus or minus depending on the volume. That makes a $.99 cable.. well fake. If you’re getting a “deal” on even those $2.99 cables, it’s probably fake as well. Bottom line it must be an MFI certified cable, and legitimate companies will clearly state the information on the outside of the packing. However, in the world of counterfeiting and fakes, even the packaging can be fake. My best advice is stick with name brands you know and trusts over the years. I usually keep Belkin and Griffen cables at my retail locations as they have been very reliable.


Bottom line would you rather pay $9.99 or more for a cable or get the call from your local repair shop that your new iPhone/iPad that you paid well over $500 is now dead. While some of these are repairable, typically this type of repair is $200+. The surge of electricity can literally kill your device and leave you with a $0.99 glittery pink/red/blue charging cable and a $500 paperweight!

I know it’s painful (cost wise) when you need multiple charging cables but based on the past few months/year of repairs it’s not a matter of IF.. but when that day comes you have an issue. The real danger, of course, is not a dead device but the chance the cheap cable starts a fire and puts you and your family at risk of serious injury or loss of something much more valuable than a phone or tablet.

Please be safe and take the time to inspect your cables!

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