A new feature on this year’s Apple iPhones is the ability to recharge your battery faster than ever. Fast charging is not new technology – it’s been available on Androids for several years now, and is even on its third or fourth generation of improvements. However fast charging is new to the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X this year, but unfortunately, Apple did not include the proper fast charging set-up in the purchase of your phones. If you want to charge your new iPhone at the fastest possible speeds Apple is asking you to shell out $50 for the official USB-C charger and $19.00 for the USB-C to Lightning cable. $69 is affordable for most people who just purchased a new iPhone, but it’s not necessary with third-party options that are just as good, if not better. If you’ve owned an iPhone for more than a year, you know it’s inevitable that your charging cable will wear down and break, it’s just a matter of time. Instead of spending $69, you can get the Anker 30W USB-C charger and the Metrans USB-C to Lightning cable and the combo cost more than half as much at $22 for the charger and $17 for the cable.
Does the third-party combo actually work?
Absolutely.
If you’re new to third-party chargers and cables, you need to know Anker. It’s easily the most trusted mobile accessory brand on the market. The Verge even wrote a special editorial covering Anker and how great its products are. As an avid tech enthusiast, I’m always on the hunt for capable and versatile chargers, and Anker sits atop my list of brands I trust most. The 30W USB-C charger has a single port dedicated to USB-C output and has a blue LED light to let you know it’s working. It has a matte finish and is arguably better built than any OEM charger from Apple that I’ve ever used. It shaped like a charger and measures 2.4 x 2.3 x 2.1 inches and has a foldable plug that makes it ideal for portability. It even has enough power output to charge compatible 2017 USB-C Macbooks and is a much cheaper alternative at just $21.99. It’s even backed by 18 months of warranty, but I’ve never had an issue with over a dozen Anker products. Its standard USB A to Lightning Powerline+ cables are some of my favorites as they’re nearly unbreakable and cheaper than OEM cables at $10 each.
Unfortunately, Anker has yet to come out with a compatible replacement cable for fast charging, although I have no doubts there is one in the works. Luckily though there is a highly rated USB C to Lightning cable from Metrans on Amazon that works as a great alternative. It’s priced at $16.99 and can deliver the full 29W of power from the Anker USB C charger to Macbooks, but it can also charge the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X at the fastest speeds that Apple will allow. The Metrans cable comes wrapped in a braided sheath that gives it extra protection against wear and tear. It also has metal connectors that are very durable and looks great as an added benefit.
Should you get the Anker USB-C charger and Metrans USB C to Lightning cable?
If you want to take advantage of fast charging on your iPhones then yes. If you own a MacBook, the answer is yes. Ultimately charging is significantly faster with USB C charging and Anker and Metrans make a great pair that saves you quite a bit of money over the OEM Apple products, and will probably last longer too. I drained my iPhone X to zero to test out fast charging versus normal charging speeds. To get from zero power to full took 3:35 minutes, where the fast charging combo took 2:03 minutes. But in a typical scenario, going from 30% to 90% took just over 40 minutes with the fast charger and well over an hour using the standard charger that came with the phone. While most scenarios rarely have me needing quick power, there are times when I need to get out the door with as much power as possible and fast charging is the best way to go every single time.
If you want to fast charge your iPhone 8, 8 Plus or X at a discount, I highly recommend picking up the Metrans USB C to Lightning cable and the Anker 30W USB C charger at Amazon.com.