Belkin - DuraTek Plus 4' Lightning-to-USB Type A Cable - Black

Ok I've now been using iPhones for 10+yrs; my how time files once your caught in the Apples Eco system. I now own a 256GB iPhone 8+ and have two 9.7" iPads, one that I keep in my camera bag, that I mostly use for photo editing. I must say I like the lightning connector much more then the original 32 pin apple connector. That being said, I have at least 6 Lightning to USB cables I can quickly put my hands on (probably more if I looked). I've never bought a repleacement cable from Apple, as their cables just don't last, they kink up and the wires break loose at the joints. So finding third party cables that are well make, and are available in various lenghts is important to me. It's great that their phones and I pads have battery life over 12h, but they still all need to be charged. In my car I have Car Play, which requires my phone to be connected/disconnected whenever I get in/out of the car. This where I'll now be using this Belkin DuraTek cable. I've had 2 other cables (one a the original Apple cable and another 1' cable). The Apple cable cracked in the middle and exposed wires in under a year, it might have been kicked or tangled by a passanger, I plead innocent in it's abuse, but it didn't last, and it's damage concerned me. I replace it with a short cable (that would not get tangled) a silicon covered cable, it solved the tangleing problem but made it hard to keep my phone where I wanted it (about 2' from the console plug). The Belkin DuraTek Plus cable has much stronger anchors at each base/end of the cable and the cable is much thicker (see picture). Instead if a plastic cable cover the Belkin cable has a woven fabric which bends less easily, but slides more smoothly. The difference in cable quality it noticable. And the list price of Belkin's DuraTek Plus matches the Apple's Lightning cable of the same length. With a 5 year warranty, and a convnient cable strap, the decision is easy. On Apple's web site their Apple branded cables get 2 stars. If you going to spend the money on a good cable, get a great cable from Belkin, it's Apple certified, and it will last. If you have a fast, smart charger (2.1a or 2.5a) it will probably charge you product faster (I could not prove this, but I don't doubt it).

Quality- It’s only been a few days but I can already tell this will be my most durable cable. It feels a few times better than my lightning cable that is packed with my iPhone. Appearance- Since this is only a charging cable I was not expecting it to look that great but I’m pleased with it. The way it is woven I don’t think it will fray or peel from normal wear and tear. It is also nice that it have a leather strap to help keep things organized. Getting it in Black is also a bonus because it will not look bad if it gets stains or marks. Compatibility- It’s compatible with iPads and iPhones with a lightning cable port. Final thoughts- I would often replace my charging cable multiple times a year because of reasons such as failure, and peeling because the original iPhone cable was not durable enough. With this Belkin DuraTek Plus I don’t think I will have those issues. This lightning cable will most likely outlive my iPhone and I like that it is 6ft long for a bit more freedom while I’m charging. The Belkin DuraTek Plus will save me money since I replace cables a few times. This is a premium lightning cable and Belkin got it right.

Belkin DuraTek Plus Lighting to USB - Black 6 FT Belkin has created an excellent charging cord by addressing the three most common failures of all iOS OEM charging cables and/or clones on the market and addressing those flaws in their design. At 6 feet, this 1.8M cable allows you to power up while continuing to use your mobile devices. The cord itself is much stronger (10X stronger) than other cables, and it is engineered and built using Aramid fibers to add strength. The Aramid fibers are tightly woven to form the exterior of the cord and specifically designed to resist fraying at the ends, which has always been the death of any other cable that I have owned. Belkin has also reengineered the cord’s electrical connection to take more strain and not fray and split like charging cords do after 9-12 months of use. The actual charging connector has been designed to resist breakage by laser welding each connector during the manufacturing process. Other great features of this lighting to USB charging cord is that it charges relatively quick, has a full five (5) year warranty, and is neatly transportable with the leather strap and snap that is affixed to the cord and designed to hold it in place when folded. I strongly recommend this product and will probably be replacing all future charging cables when they break with this product line.

I must have gone through several dozen lightning cables that I’ve used at home, work and while repairing my rental properties and none have lasted longer than 4-6 months. They get twisted and pulled and eventually they stop working. This cable seems to be the exception so far. I’ve purposely pulled on it, twisted the lightning end around and have just been pretty rough with it and so far, I’ve had no problems. Sometimes it’s better to spend a little bit more on a cable that is durable and will potentially last, versus buying the lesser expensive versions that burn out in a short period of time. This has been a great cable thus far and I anticipate it lasting longer than my previous cables. You can see from the pictures how much thicker the Belkin cable is compared to a brand new Apple lightning cable. It’s heavily jacketed and strong compared to the thinner Apple cable. I would definitely recommend this if you are looking for a durable cable.

The Belkin Duratek Plus is a high quality Lightning cable that should last for years. The cable features a thick woven exterior and aramid fibers inside to create a strong, resilient cable. Though I am not a fan of the speckled appearance, the large molded strain relied is an improvement over the Apple cable. Belkin claims the connector is also laser welded, but time will tell if it breaks off as some cheaper cables I have owned. Fortunately, Belkin offers a generous 5-year warranty for added peace of mind. The length is perfect for me. At 4-feet, the cable is just slightly longer than the Lightning cable included with most iPhones (see photo) and includes a strap for bundling the cable together. Overall, a well designed and worthy replacement of the ever failing Lightning cable.

This premium cable is 6 ft. long, which is twice as long as standard cables. It's built with a fabric sleeve, quite thick. Because of this is more rigid but I found it surprisingly flexible for this type of cable. Some cheaper 'reinforced' cables feel like wire, but not this. It's flexible and handles like thinner cables do. The connectors are well built. The boot is rubbery and extends well into the cable, so less chance of frying at the ends. However the boots are not excessively thick so it works fine in most cases, although it is, as expected, thicker than Apple cables. To pack the cable, it comes with a built-in real brown leather strap that attaches with a metal clip. It's both rugged and stylish (If that is a word ever used for a cable).

Let’s get to the fundamentally critical part- the Belkin Duratek lightning cable does its job. It fits as snuggly as a USB-Lightning cable can and it transmits data quickly. What makes it special? Several traits. As you can see in the photos adjacent to an Apple cable, the ends are more larger and more robust. This will, no doubt, extend the lifespan. It also makes the cable appropriate for environments such as your car. It’s also a nice looking piece of equipment. The shroud on the cable is nice looking, more sopshisticated than a plastic/rubber cable, and also adds to the durability. Oh, and it has a nice little leather snap cable manager. No need to buy an accessory or twist it up to keep it neat.

This is an excellent charing cord for iOS products, outer shell of the cord is made of the woven fabric with rubber insulation underneath, total wire thickness is around 3/16". Connectors have appropriate strain relief which prevents cable from breaking down at the ends. Cable has a leather storage strap permanently attached to it which makes it easy to put the cable away and not worry about it getting tangled. Overall - it's a very solid cord suitable for 10W charing, excellent while traveling or if you just want to keep using your device while charging as 6' length allows for free movement. I would definitely choose it over Apple's 6' cord.