The Best Lightning Cables for iPhone and iPad of 2025

Lightning cables for USB-C ports

If you want a USB-C–to–Lightning cable with a tangle-proof silicone sheath that comes in six colors: Get the Anker 641 Flow Silicone USB-C to Lightning Cable. Its rubber sheath is silky-smooth and extremely flexible — to the point that you don’t really need a cable tie anyway, since it doesn’t tangle like most charging cables do. Instead of a hook-and-loop cable tie, it has a (somewhat fiddly) silicone strap with a button closure. Like our pick in this category, this cable has robust housings that are comfortable to grasp. Plus, it comes in more colors than any other cable we tested: black, white, light pink, light blue, light green, and light purple.

On the downside, it doesn’t come in a 10-foot version like our pick in this category does (there are 3-foot and 6-foot versions), and it has a shorter warranty (18 months compared with a lifetime). But otherwise it’s a great option.

If you want a USB-C–to–Lightning cable with an eco-friendly sheath that comes in four colors: Get the Anker Bio-Based USB-C to Lightning Cable. It has a shorter warranty than our pick in this category (two years versus a lifetime). But, like that model, it includes a cable tie, its housings are sturdy and comfortable to grip, and it comes in three lengths (3 feet, 6 feet, and 10 feet). It comes in more colors, including black, white, light blue, light green, and light purple (though not every length is available in every color, as of this writing). As an added bonus, its soft-textured sheath is partially composed of plant-based materials (about 40 percent, according to the company).

If you want a fabric-encased USB-C–to–Lightning cable: Get the Belkin BoostCharge Nylon Braided USB-C to Lightning Cable. Its braided-nylon sheath is as sleek and flexible as any cloth cable covering we’ve tested, and its housings are about as well built as those of our picks. It has a shorter warranty than our pick in this category (two years versus a lifetime), it doesn’t include a cable tie, and it comes in fewer lengths (3.3 and 6.6 feet). But like that model it comes in either black or white.

If you want a fabric-encased USB-C–to–Lightning cable that comes with a handy magnetic cable tie: Get the OtterBox Premium Pro Fast Charge USB-C to Lightning Cable. It costs more than our pick in this category, and it comes in only one length (6.6 feet). But it’s available in two colors (black or white), and it has a premium braided-nylon sheath and grippy silicone housings. Plus, it’s backed by OtterBox’s lifetime warranty. We especially like its magnetic cable tie, which (when paired with the included adhesive-backed magnetic disc or any magnetic surface) allows you to keep your cable close at hand — rather than scrounging around for it under the nightstand or behind the couch.

If you want a fabric-encased USB-C–to–Lightning cable with a 90-degree plug: Get the Moshi Integra USB-C to Lightning Cable with 90-degree Connector. It comes in only a 5-foot length and the color gray, but it has sturdy plastic housings, a hook-and-loop cable tie, and a sleek, rugged, braided-nylon sheath. It costs more than our pick in this category, and it has a shorter warranty (two years versus a lifetime). But it can be handy if you need a right-angle plug for charging a handheld gaming console, powering a dash cam or other car accessory, or plugging in a cable in a tight space, such as behind a desktop monitor or couch.

If you want a fabric-encased USB-C–to–Lightning cable with a magnetic anti-tangling feature: Get the Scosche MagStack Tangle-Free Magnetic Lightning 3 ft. Charging Cable. It has a lifetime warranty, sturdy aluminum housings, and a braided-nylon sheath, and it comes in black or gray. Also, it has built-in magnets so it can stick to some metal surfaces, and it easily coils up into a neat, compact stack. On the downside, it comes in only one length (3 feet), so it’s not as versatile as we’d like, and it costs much more than our pick in this category.

Lightning cables for USB-A ports

If you want a three-in-one cable (a USB-A–to–Micro-USB cable with attached Lightning and USB-C adapters): Get the Anker PowerLine II 3-in-1 Cable or Belkin BoostCharge 3-in-1 Universal Cable. Three-in-one cables can be handy for travelers who need to charge devices via Lightning, USB-C, and Micro-USB but want to minimize the number of cables to pack. Both of these models have a USB-A plug on one end and a Micro-USB connection on the other, while a pair of adapters — one Lightning, one USB-C — are tethered to the body of the cable. They support basic USB 2.0 data-transfer speeds regardless of which connector you use.

These models come in only one length (3.3 feet), but they performed well in our testing. Belkin backs its version with a two-year warranty and comes in black, whereas Anker’s version has a lifetime warranty and is available in either black or white. We found that the Lightning and USB-C adapters on Anker’s version were much easier to slip on and off the main Micro-USB plug. But the Belkin cable adds a thoughtful touch: Each adapter has a small hook on the side, so you can clip it onto the cable when you aren’t using it; this keeps the adapters from dangling freely and possibly snagging on something in your laptop bag.

If you want a fabric-encased USB-A–to–Lightning cable: Get the Belkin BoostCharge Nylon Braided USB-A to Lightning Cable. It’s identical to the USB-C–to–Lightning version above, except it has a USB-A plug and charges more slowly.

If you want a fabric-encased USB-A–to–Lightning cable with a magnetic anti-tangling feature: Get the Statik MagStack USB-A to Lightning Cable. It uses the same magnetic easy-coil technology as the Scosche cable mentioned above, and its braided-nylon sheath is similarly rugged. The housings are made of plastic instead of aluminum, but they feel sturdy and have a relatively sleek look.

On the downside, this cable comes in fewer lengths than our pick in this category (3 or 6 feet) and just one color (black). Also, it has a shorter warranty (two years compared with a lifetime) and costs more at this writing.