We’ve talked about making sure you have safe, legit charging cables in the past (http://canyonero.org/2014/05/15/are-oem-apple-chargers-cables-worth-it/), but it’s so important, it’s worth mentioning again. Charging cables are expensive, but there’s reasons why it’s important to buy the OEM ones, or ones that are certified by the original manufacturer. We’re not only talking about the cheap no-name iPhone charging cables on Amazon or Five Below (please, please don’t do it), but we’re also talking about discount USB-C Charging cables that are charging some of the most expensive laptops on the market today.
A few weeks ago, you may have noticed Amazon made news headlines for banning the sale of several non-compliant USB-C charging cables on its website (http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/30/11329848/amazon-usb-c-cable-prohibition). That decision came after numerous people began reporting that their discount, Amazon-purchased USB-C charging cables were electronically frying their equipment: http://gizmodo.com/cheap-usb-c-cables-could-kill-your-phone-or-laptop-1757115350. That cheap charging cable just became an expensive problem to fix.
So, is the answer to always purchase the top-of-the-line OEM cables and cords, regardless of the price? Not always- but if you go cheap on the accessories, beware of the risk. Make sure that if you’re purchasing something online, you look for reputable brands with lots of positive reviews for the specific product you’re looking at. If you’re looking for iPhone cables, make sure they guarantee to be “Apple MFi Certified”. If looking at charging cables, make sure they come with a warranty, and the selling company seems legit (instructions are in well-written English), with ample positive reviews of the product and the company. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to review a purchase before you make it!