But while promising top-notch durability and strength, as well as looking quite fetching in black and white speckled designs, these were merely scheduled for a vague spring commercial release. Their pricing structure was also short of exciting, starting at $24.99, or 6 bucks more than Apple’s cheapest in-house USB-C to Lightning solution.
Unsurprisingly, another veteran of the mobile accessories market jumped at the opportunity to beat Belkin to the punch. And the Ankerline PowerLine II USB-C cable with Lightning connector is now officially up for pre-order.
With shipments underway on February 20, Anker has pretty much secured its place in the limelight ahead of Belkin. But undoubtedly the best thing about the new PowerLine II is that it starts at $15.99.
That’s $4 lower than the price of a 1-meter Apple-made USB-C to Lightning cable, which is obviously not a massive difference. But it’s the number one reason “iFans” have been eagerly expecting Apple to open the door to third-party MFi-certified accessories like this for so long.
Even cheaper USB-C to Lightning cables are most likely right around the corner, as more companies will join Belkin and Anker, ramping up competition in a seemingly small but important space.
Keep in mind that Apple’s past two generations of iPhones technically support fast charging functionality, requiring however one of these cables to connect to a first or third-party power brick with enhanced capabilities.
As Anker points out on the official PowerLine II product webpage, MFi authorization ensures “flawless operation with any devices that use a Lightning connector.” Apart from that, the company’s 3-foot cable doesn’t look special in any way, nonetheless claiming 12 times the durability of “other cables”, while shipping with a lifetime warranty. Not bad for 16 bucks.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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