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The parts that fail first and get replaced most. Braided cables and hubs judged on certification, sustained charge speed, and how long they last in a bag.
MFi certification first, because uncertified Lightning cables stop working after iOS updates. Then strain relief at the connector, which is where every cable dies, jacket material, sustained charge speed with a proper adapter, and honest data speed — Lightning is USB 2.0 no matter what the listing claims.
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Apple has licensed the authentication chip inside the connector. Uncertified cables can stop working after an iOS update or throw an ‘accessory may not be supported’ warning. For Lightning it is worth insisting on.
iPhone 15 and later use USB-C, so you want USB-C to USB-C. iPhone 14 and earlier use Lightning, so you want USB-C to Lightning — not USB-A to Lightning, which cannot fast-charge.
Lightning is USB 2.0 — about 480Mbps — regardless of the cable. No cable makes a Lightning iPhone transfer faster. USB-C iPhones vary by model.
Only if you have an iPhone 15 or later and want HDMI output or to read camera cards. Lightning iPhones can’t use USB-C hubs at all.
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