Like all phones, iPhones are no different in the world of cables breaking down so easily. With how much utility they use when it comes to charging the phone itself, charging cables are a tool that are vital towards continuing performance for the phone itself. As they stop working, be it overtime or altogether, you can’t help but ask yourself the following:
Why do iPhone cables stop working? iPhone chargers mainly stop working due to being old and worn out after several usage throughout time. Sometimes they can even stop working due to strain on the plastic outer layer and cause the wires to be exposed and easily susceptible to damage.
iPhone chargers are crucial to the utility and accessibility of the phone itself. Without it, the ability to regain battery for your phone will become difficult and can cause some malfunction in your phone as well. With understanding and knowing how iPhone cables/chargers can break, the ability to preserve them and continue their utility can be benefited greatly, be it for a new phone or an old one.
Why Do iPhone Cables Stop Working?
There are lots of different reasons as to why iPhone cables break easily, which will be explained thoroughly down below as well as a few recommendations as to how to fix the issue. These recommendations are minimal, but enough to ensure that you give it some afterthought once you finish reading.
The Cable is Old & Worn Out
The most common reason why iPhone cables stop working is primarily because of how old they can be after being used day in and day out.
It is as simple as that, but since we tend to favor the precious cable that’s been with us since our iPhone 6 back when it came out, we forget that we have a new cable at our disposal. This could lead to certain wear and tear and even cause the cable to short circuit depending on how much it was used.
Recommendation: The best thing to do in this case is to simply buy a new one or if you already bought a new iPhone not too long ago, then it’s safe to assume that you should be using the new cable that the phone came with.
The Cable Was Bought Cheap
Sometimes the cable itself is a cheap imitation of the more durable and perhaps even the originals. What I mean by that is usually, we would scroll down through Amazon or even go to our local store and see a nice selection of customizable cables that would spark our “world” per se. Like how we see phone cases, we barely see the reviews but rather the cost, and though it is nice to save a few dollars on an accessory for your phone, the cable is something that is wise to invest in.
With that said, if the cable is cheap looking or less like the more authentic versions of Apple’s charging cables, then you’re unfortunately bound for failure as that cable will not last a longer span of time than its original, white, and sleeker designs.
Recommendation: If you really want to opt-out on the original white charging cable for the iPhone, then think carefully as well as spend carefully for your more personalized one. The best way to see these cables are through online stores such as Amazon and see the types of reviews they have for them.
In previous articles, I’ve mentioned how lower quality USB cables can fall victim when exposed to extreme high and low temperatures, especially when they are left outside in your car. After going through a ton of them myself, my hands down favorite is this USB charging cable by Anker, as it is the first quality accessory after over a year of use to not fray, break, or stop working, even when leaving it in my car overnight through hot and freezing temperatures.
The Cable May Have Been Exposed To Liquids
As the saying goes (or if there is such a saying), water and electricity don’t mix well.
If the cable was exposed to any levels of liquids, be it your water bottle opened up and pour some water around where the cable is, or if you for a brief moment dropped it in an area where it was wet, the chance of the cable being fried can occur from these instances, being unable to continue one with its primary function to charge the phone.
Furthermore, this could also lead the phone to be fried out as well if the cable still continues to work in these instances. It is not my call to make but yours if this ever happens.
Recommendation: If something of the sort occurs, the best thing is to get and get it replaced as quickly as possible before it can cause any damage to your phone or the cable. All it takes is a simple Amazon online trip or go to your local Apple store for a brand new one.
It May Not Be the Cable… It Could Be the Phone
If you are certain that the cable is functioning perfectly and that you are sure there are no wear and tears in them, then it might not be the cable that stopped working, but the phone itself.
Sometimes due to overcharging and overusing a phone, the battery life can be destroyed internally, and that could lead to a few complications such as battery drainage, overheating, or in this case, the inability to charge the phone itself.
And that is not a good sign to have.
Recommendation: Though we are not experts in this area, the best we can recommend is going to your local Apple store and contacting them to see what the problem is in this case. I DO NOT recommend prying open your phone to switch the battery yourself.
Why Do iPhone Cables/Chargers Break Easily?
Much like any other charger for any other phones, iPhones are no different when it comes to the wear and tear of cables and chargers. Even if you recently bought a phone, or been around with one for a long time, there are chances that the cables or the charger can break. Why do they break so easily? Here are a few reasons why iPhone cables/break easily:
Strain on the Cables
Much like how they can wear and tear when cables get old throughout time, the strain on the cable can cause it to break easily. The reason for this is due to how flexible and “cheap” the material is for the charger itself and when applied with pressure from its charging area and can break the outer coating of the cable, resulting in exposure of its wires.
Recommendation: Sometimes, it is a good idea to wrap around the cable and place it in a secure location where strain may not occur. A nice storage location exclusively for the cable should delay the strain.
Charging Box Stays On For Too Long
If the charging box is the problem, then that is probably because it has stayed in the outlet for too long. This can cause an overcharge on the charger and cause it to malfunction due to it being in the outlet. It can cause an impact on the cable as well and can sometimes overheat the phone.
Recommendation: Try and remove the charging box as often as possible, so it cools down, and right before you charge your phone, plug the charging box in so that it maintains its desired function.
Types of iPhone Cables
Now that you understand the reasons as to why the iPhone cable stops working, then you should also know the different types of cables that the iPhone comes with. The differences aren’t much considering there aren’t that many changes to the phone line in general, but there have been major leaps here and there.
The original iPhone up until its iPhone 4s successor, the phone contained what was known as a 30-pin connecter charger, which appeared bulky and out of line for most phone chargers at the time. It wasn’t until the iPhone 5 back in 2012 that the cable opted for a more sleeker design that we know of today. This sleeker design, known as a lightning cable, provides much faster-charging rate than the original 30-pin connector, hence why they break so easily.