• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 0.8 inch (20cm), 5 feet (1.5m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

Apple owns hip audio brand Beats but still allows it to make and sell better cables than it does. The Beats Woven Lightning Cable is a great example of this. It feels more robust in its braided form with a little half-inch sleeve at the connector end that should help keep it from bending too sharply, which is a primary cause of cables splitting over time. It’s also available in a range of three colors—black, white and red.

Unless 3.3 feet (1 meter) is the perfect length for your Lightning cable, we think you’ll like the Apple-certified Beats USB-C to Lightning Woven Cable better. With the 5-foot (1.5m) version you get a length that’s half as long again for the same price as the Apple cable. And there’s a much shorter 0.8-inch (20cm) Beats Lightning Cable (Amazon) that isn’t any cheaper but will reduce cable clutter if you don’t need a long cable—for instance, when connecting to a power bank or nearby desktop charger. Sadly, the short Beats Lightning cable is in black only.

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 3.3 feet (1m) or 6.6 feet (2m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

To unlock Fast Charge on your iPhone you need a USB-C to Lightning cable (and at least an 18W adaptor). Apple’s variant might be one of the more expensive examples, but it’s also the most trustworthy, hailing direct from Apple itself—although Apple makes the Beats cables, too, and you can trust the other cable brands listed below, too. That said, Apple’s non-braided cables have a reputation for fraying and losing their pristine white color over time.

The standard cable that ships with most Apple products is the 1m cable ($19 /£19), but it’s also available at 2m ($29/ £29).

• USB type: USB-A
• Length: 1.6 feet (0.5m), 3.3 feet (1m) or 6.6 feet (2m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: No

Also from Apple is this Lightning cable with the old non-reversible rectangular USB-A port at the charger end. As it’s not USB-C it won’t support Apple’s Fast Charge on iPhone, but it’s pretty handy none the less if you own a charger with the old connector. We still recommend you upgrade to a USB-C charger and USB-C to Lightning cable.

It is available at half or double the standard 1m length (0.5m is the same price; 2m is a little extra). Either way, it’s still expensive compared to some third-party Lightning cables.

Do note that these Apple white cables often tend to go a nice shade of murky gray pretty fast, depending on your usage.

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 1 foot (0.3m), 3.3 feet (1m), 6 feet (1.8m), 10 feet (3m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

Anker is one of the most trusted Apple-accessory brands, and it offers a wide range of USB to Lightning cables. The Apple-certified, nylon-braided Anker 331 USB-C to Lightning Cable is its budget offering but is still more robust than Apple’s cables and available in a wider choice of lengths (from 1 foot to 3m) and colors (Black, Silver, Blue and Red).

Anker claims that the 331 cable can withstand up to 12,000 bends. The Anker 762 USB-C to Lightning Cable ups that claim to 35,000 bends.

Remember that you need a USB-C to Lightning cable like this one for fast-charging iPhones older than the iPhone 15.

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 3 feet (0.9m), 6 feet (1.8m) or 10 feet (3m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

Products in the AmazonBasics range just work and they’re very cheap to boot. Cheap does not mean bad though—Basics’ 6-foot cable is cheap, and if you can find the shorter variant in stock it’s even cheaper.

Amazon does note that it works with ‘nearly all cases’, so you may want to double-check, but we doubt this would be a problem for most accessories.

It’s available in white or black and red, in most regions.

• USB type: USB-A
• Length: 3 feet (0.9m) or 6 feet (1.8m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: No

For older chargers, this is a decent affordable USB-A to Lightning cable available in various lengths and in black or white. It’s USB-A so not a Fast Charge option like the USB-C version.

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 5 feet (1.5m); Pro version is 8 feet (2.4m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

Five foot long, braided for toughness and available in snazzy shades of gray, green and yellow, the Native Union Belt Cable Duo gives you the choice between a USB-C and Lightning connector at one end of the cable. This is a great solution for people with a mixture of device connectors. It can charge at up to 60W, so is even capable for charging your MacBook.

There’s also an 8-foot (2.4m) Belt Cable Duo Pro version ($49.99) that supports power up to 240W for owners of the MacBook Pro.

• USB type: USB-C or USB-A
• Length: 0.5 feet (15cm), 1 foot (30cm), 6.6 feet (2m) or 10 feet (3m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

This magic cable has USB-C or USB-A at the charging end, and USB-C or Lightning at the other, so it should sort out all your device charging—especially as the Lightning connector is cleverly combined with MicroUSB.

It’s available in white, black or yellow.

• InCharge XL 1ft (30cm): $29.99 / £29.99
• InCharge XL 6.6ft (2m): $34.90 / £34.90
• InCharge XL 10ft (3m): $39.99 / £39.99
• InCharge XL Pocket 0.5ft (15cm): $29.99 / £29.99

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 20 inches (0.5m) or 3.3 feet (1m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

One way to avoid cable snakes is a coiled cable that takes up less space on your desk or wherever you lay it.

This coiled Lightning cable from StarTech.com is available with either USB-A or USB-C but USB-C to Lightning is better for Fast Charge, and in either 50cm/20 inches or 1m/3.3ft lengths.

The shorter cable extends to 20 inches (50cm) and contracts to 12.5 inches (32cm). The longer version extends to 3.3ft (1m) and contracts to 1.2ft (38cm).

• USB type: USB-A
• Length: 1.6 feet (0.5m) or 3.3 feet (1m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: No

This coiled Lightning cable with USB-A at the other end fits older chargers but doesn’t support Apple’s Fast Charge like the USB-C version does.

Like its more modern sibling, it is available in either 50cm/20in or 1m/3ft lengths. The shorter cable extends to 20in/50cm and contracts to 12.5in/32cm. The longer version extends to 3.3ft/1m and contracts to 1.2ft/38cm.

• USB type: USB-A
• Length: 20 feet (6m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

This Lightning cable is an amazing 6m (that’s 20-feet) long. If the plug outlet in your room of choice is further away from your sprawling place of choice then this is the answer.

It’s also handy for passing round in a car. The thicker than Apple cable is more durable and should last you a while.

If you really must stick with a slower USB-A charger, there is a 20-foot USB-A to Lightning cable version.

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 8 inches (20cm)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

You know what? Sometimes you just need a short cable, rather than a skinny python snaking over your desk.

One of the best short Lightning cables we’ve seen is from Beats, it’s just 8 inches long, and it’s MFI certified.

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 1 foot (0.3m)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: Yes

Still short but slightly longer than the 0.8-inch Beats Lightning cable is this 1-foot (30cm) shortie from Anker.

• USB type: USB-A
• Length: 6 inches (15cm)
• MFi: Certified
• Fast charge: No

This USB-A to Lightning cable from CableCreation is MFI certified but won’t support iPhone Fast Charge as it has USB-A at the other end.

It’s just 6 inches (15cm) long, and available in either black-&-white, black or rose gold depending on which Amazon store you are buying from. 

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 3.3 feet (1m) or 6.6 feet (2m)
• MFi: No
• Fast charge: Yes

The exterior of these USB-C to Lightning cables is constructed using plant-based materials, thus reducing a reliance on petroleum-based plastics like thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

The packaging is recyclable (the bio-based cables are secured by a recyclable paper sleeve) and even the shipping is carbon neutral, offsetting the CO2 produced.

Shipping outside the UK is an extra US$6.30 or €6, but if you value the planet that’s not a lot to pay.

Wave also makes a USB-A to Lightning version of the cable, but remember that this won’t support fast charging like the USB-C to Lightning cable.

The cables are not yet MFi certified but could be at a later date, depending on demand.

• USB type: USB-C
• Length: 4 feet (1.2m)
• MFi: No
• Fast charge: Yes

Most cables just do one or two things: charging and data transfer or both. The RapidX 2-in-1 Lightning Charging Cable can also be used as a phone stand—great for streaming movies or making FaceTime calls while charging your phone. The stand works in landscape mode only.

The 4-foot braided nylon jacket is made from recycled materials, such as fishing nets and textile production waste. It has USB-C on one end and Lightning on the other,