I have been through a few iPhone chargers in my time. They end up frayed and chewed up (by what, I have no idea?!). Also, all too often, the average phone charger lead ends up being too short. It might only be 10cms too short but it’ still frustrating.
So, I welcomed the chance to test a new charging cable from LifeEdge. Sold simply as: “The Ultimate Charge/Sync Cable”.
The LifeEdge product claims to be:
- Ultra tough
- Waterproof
- Lightning and USB metal connectors coated with a patented anticorrosion treatment
- Fast charging
- Extra long at 2m
- It also comes with a no-tangle travel carrier and a lifetime guarantee.
On test: LifeEdge The Ultimate Charge Cable
The cable is long. Two metres is a really good length of cable. The plastic covering is also super durable and the metal connectors are covered in a double-moulded plugs. So, all in all, this looks like a cable that will stand the test of time.
If you like your gadget accessories to look good, this one ticks the box as well. It’s a smart grey and green and it is easily differentiated from the other mostly white, and one pink, cables we already have in this house for charging iPhones and iPads. I like that no-one can “borrow” this one and pretend it’s their own because it is clearly mine.
I can’t say I have ever had the need to charge my phone in a wet place. If I need to charge a phone on the move and with a portable charger I would simply plug in my old charger. I have done this in wet and damp conditions and never worried about the phone connections becoming wet.
Perhaps I have been lucky? I usually connect the phone to the charger and pop it into my rucksack so maybe that is why I have been lucky.
However, if you are sailing or on the beach or, perhaps, doing a lot of outdoors adventuring in the rain, a fully waterproof phone and charger might be just the very thing. In this case, you will want to pop your gadget into a LifeEdge, or similar, waterproof case and then use the LifeEdge Ultimate charger cable for extra waterproofing security.
Aside from the waterproofing credentials of the cable I really like how tough and durable this lead is. It looks like it will go on being brilliant for many years to come (just so long as Apple do not change their phone socket connections).
I am also valuing the length of the cable. My plug socket is quite a long way from where I sometimes sit in bed to use or watch a programme on my iPad. When the iPad is on low charge I normally have to lean to one side to watch the iPad and have it plugged into the socket. Now I can sit two metres from the plug socket, which is perfect.
I am not sure if this cable manages to charge my phone any quicker than the cable that came with the phone. I usually charge the phone overnight and, anyway, it’s pretty difficult to keep track of how quickly a gadget charges up. I didn’t find it any slower than other cables.
It costs £29.99 which is more than twice as much as I have ever paid for a charger lead but it is very good quality. I guess, in the end, your choice of iPhone charger cable will come down to the length of cable that you need and whether you plan to use it in the rain/wet.