Mobile device users in the 2000s had a hard time - they had to put up with the so-called proprietary... The phones of each of the manufacturers were equipped with unique charging connectors - as a result, the charger, for example, for Nokia did not work with a Motorola phone. It got to the point of absurdity - when for two phones of the same manufacturer (Finnish) it was necessary to look for different chargers. User dissatisfaction was so strong that the European Parliament was forced to intervene.
Now the situation is fundamentally different: almost all smartphone manufacturers equip their gadgets with ports for chargers. one type... The user no longer has to buy a new memory "in addition" to the phone.
USB cables can be used not only to transfer data from a PC to a gadget, but also to charge a mobile device. Smartphones are able to replenish the "reserves" of the battery both from the outlet and from the computer, but in the second case, charging will take significantly longer. A traditional USB cable for an Android smartphone or Windows Phone looks like this:
There is a standard plug at one of its ends. USB 2.0 Type-A:
This plug fits into a USB port on your computer or laptop.
At the other end of the wire is a plug microUSB.
It is, accordingly, inserted into the micro-USB connector on the mobile device.
It is micro-USB 2.0 that is now a unified connector: you can find it on smartphones and tablets of almost all manufacturers of mobile equipment (with the exception of Apple). The interface standardization agreement was signed in 2011 by representatives of 13 companies leading in the mobile market.
The choice fell on Micro-USB for a number of reasons:
- The connector is compact... Its physical dimensions are only 2 × 7 millimeters, which is about 4 times smaller than that of USB 2.0 Type-A.
- The plug is robust- especially when compared to Nokia's slim charger.
- The connector is capable of providing high data transfer rates. Theoretically, the transfer speed via Micro-USB when using the 2.0 standard can reach 480 Mbps. The actual speed is much lower (10-12 Mbps in Full Speed), but users rarely find this inconvenient.
- The connector supports OTG function. We'll tell you more about the benefits of this later.
Competition micro-USB in the fight for the role of a standard connector could impose Mini-USB... The mini plug looks like this:
This kind of USB connector did not fit as standard, and here's why:
- Bigger connector- albeit not much. Its size is 3 × 7 millimeters.
- The connector is fragile enough- due to the lack of rigid mountings, it loosens very quickly. As a result, the transmission of data through the cable becomes a real torment for the user.
In the 2000s, a mini-USB connector could be found on smartphones manufactured by "second-class" manufacturers - for example, Philips and Alcatel... Now you will not find mobile gadgets with a mini-connector on the market.
In addition to those USB ports that we mentioned (Micro-USB, Mini-USB, USB Type-A), there are others. For example, micro-USB 3.0 standard can be used to connect hard drives to a PC, and USB Type-B(square shape) – for musical instruments (in particular, MIDI keyboards). These connectors are not directly related to mobile technology (except for Galaxy Note 3 c USB 3.0), so we will not talk about them in more detail.
What are USB cables for smartphones?
Thanks to the inexhaustible imagination of Chinese craftsmen, users of mobile technology can buy cables of completely different formations. For example, in the proprietary era, such a "monster" was incredibly popular:
Yes, this charger fit all main connectors!
Similar "multitools" are still on sale, but their plugs have diminished. Here is a 4-in-1 charger that can be ordered for less than 200 rubles:
This charger is equipped with all modern plugs - Lightning, 30Pin (both for iPhone), microUSB, USB 3.0. Definitely a "must-have" for the user!
There are other interesting options as well. Here is the cable from OATSBASF for those who hate cables:
This cable allows two mobile devices to be recharged from a computer. simultaneously(for example, the 5th iPhone and Android) and has a very tempting price - just over 100 rubles.
In domestic stores and salons, the user, of course, will not find such an abundance of various cables as on the pages of catalogs GearBest and AliExpress... In addition, Data-equipment in retail is much more expensive. For these two reasons, users are advised to order USB cables from China.
What is OTG Standard?
Surely many have seen such a cable and wondered what it is for:
This is the cable OTG; at one end of it there is a plug micro-USB, on the second - connector USB 2.0, "Mother". Using such a cable, you can connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone or tablet, but only if the mobile device itself supports the standard OTG.
OTG(short for On-the-go) Is a function designed to quickly connect 2 USB devices to each other, without the mediation of a computer. Connect by OTG you can not only a flash drive (although this is, of course, the most common case), but also, for example, a computer mouse, keyboard, external hard drive, game wheel, joystick. You can even connect your smartphone to a printer or MFP to print a picture taken with the gadget's camera.
Cables OTG for the iPhone have already appeared, however, uploading to an "apple" device (without jailbreak) from an external medium only produces photos and videos - and then only when the root folders on the flash drive and the photos themselves have the "correct" names.
Full list of smartphones that support the function OTG, no - simply because almost all modern gadgets can boast of having this standard, and the list would be huge. Nevertheless, a buyer intending to connect a mouse or a flash drive to a device should ask the consultant of the salon-store for support. OTG before giving money - "for every fireman."
USB Type-C: what are the benefits?
Transition from micro-USB on - this is a new trend in the mobile electronics market! Manufacturers are actively adopting the technology and equipping their flagship models with advanced connectors for charging and data transfer. USB Type-C waited a long time "in the shadows": the connector was created back in 2013, but only in 2016 did the market leaders pay attention to it.
Looks USB Type-C So:
What are the benefits Type-C in front of everyone familiar micro-USB?
- High data transfer rate... Bandwidth Type-C equals 10 Gb / sec (!). But that's just bandwidth: in reality, only owners of smartphones with standard USB 3.1- for example, Nexus 6P and 5X... If the gadget uses the standard USB 3.0, the speed will be around 5 Gb / s; at USB 2.0 data transfer will be significantly slower.
- Fast charging... The duration of the smartphone charging procedure depends on the potential number of watts supplied by the connector. USB 2.0 standard able to serve everything 2.5W- that's why charging takes hours. Connector USB Type-C provides 100 watts- that is, 40 times (!) More. It is curious that the transmission of current can occur in both directions - both to the host and from it.
- Connector symmetry... If the connector has micro-USB there is a top and a bottom, then the connector Type-C symmetrical. Which side to insert it into the connector does not matter. From this point of view, technology USB Type-C similar to Lightning from Apple.
Dignity Type-C is also the small size of the connector - only 8.4 × 2.6 mm. According to this criterion, technologies micro-USB and USB Type-C are similar.
Have USB Type-C There are also disadvantages, one of which is more than significant. Due to the unregulated operation of the connector, charging can easily "fry" a mobile device. This probability is not purely theoretical - fires have occurred in practice. It is for this reason that the proliferation of non-original, "artisanal" cables and chargers USB Type-C Type-C and decide to abandon the standard connector. At the same time, Ravencraft admits that, possibly, a complete substitution USB-A will never happen.
A proprietary cable for charging and synchronization is included with any smartphone, but in modern life there is not enough of it. We constantly carry our smartphone with us and actively use it, so you may need to charge the device at any time. The reality is that ideally there should be three cables: at home, at work and in a backpack. In addition, like any accessory, cables are often lost or may become unusable.
In general, a spare cable is always relevant. How to choose the right option that will last a long time?
You always need to start with this, because if the cable does not fit the connector, you will not be able to charge or transfer data. And if you overdo it, you can damage the smartphone connector - the cable should always be inserted without additional effort and remain in the desired position.
If you have an Android or Windows smartphone, it almost certainly charges via a standard micro-USB port, which means you need one of those cables. At the other end, they have a USB port for connecting to a computer or a charger.
New Android and Windows smartphones are sometimes equipped with a universal USB-C connector, for which KNOW-HOW also already has cables, for example, Belkin USB-C to Micro-USB.
If you have an iPhone, then you need a Lightning cable such as the NewGrade FlatWire. By the way, these cables are universal: they are suitable for both Lightning and microUSB.
Cord shape and material
The shape and material of the cord determines how long it will last and how comfortable it will be to use the accessory.
The easiest option is a round cable in flexible polymer (rubber or plastic) insulation, for example, Belkin Micro-USB Charge / Sync Cable. Its advantages are its relatively low price and compactness (it is easy to roll up and put away in your pocket). But such a cable will last less than others, and it gets tangled more often.
Flat cable (NewGrade Fashion, etc.) is much less tangled, so it breaks less often due to knot formation. In addition, it is easier to neatly fold it, it takes up little space.
A spring cable such as the Belkin MicroUSB Cable Charge Sync is another convenient option. If you charge your smartphone at different distances from the outlets, carry a power bank with you and regularly synchronize the device with your computer, appreciate its advantages. You don't need to twist it at all - you detached it and put it in your pocket! But you should handle it carefully - if the cable gets tangled, you will have to spend a few minutes to return the wire to its original appearance.
A braided cloth cable is the safest option. So, or its analogs will serve for years. The only drawback is that it is not as compact as other options.
The length of the cable should be taken with a small margin. On the one hand, it is good if it does not sag much and you cannot catch on to it (which means that there is a risk of damaging the cable itself and the connected smartphone below). On the other hand, if the cable is taut, the plug can come out of the connector at any time, it is more difficult to find a suitable socket, sometimes it is trivial to put the smartphone on the table, you have to leave it on the floor or in another place not intended for it.
Short cables, such as the USB NewGrade Business, are 1m long. Charging at home on your bedside table or desktop is usually no longer needed.
The average length is 1.2-1.5 m. This is an Apple certified Belkin Flat Lightning to USB cable, EnergEA Nylotough Micro-USB Quick Charging Cable and other models.
KNOW-HOW has cables and longer ones - for example, two-meter Belkin USB-C to Micro-USB Charge Cable. Another option is the Belkin MicroUSB Cable Charge Sync spring cable, length - 1.8 m, there is no need to twist, because it does not sag!
Connector material
Even this property matters when choosing a cable for a smartphone. Metal is competing with traditional plastic today: it better protects the most vulnerable area - the plug.
Plastic plug cables are inexpensive, and there are a wider range of choices, from the simplest Belkin Flat Lightning to USB to the EnergEA NyloTough NyloTough Lightning USB Cable in nylon braid.
EnergEA AluBlaze Lightning to USB cable and its analogs - cables with an aluminum plug. They are more reliable and have a futuristic modern design, the connectors do not loosen over time.
An additional charging cable is far from the most necessary accessory in the house. Many phone owners have been using the bundled cable for years and everyone is happy. But if the cable is frayed, lost, burst, or you just need a spare option, you run into the nearest communication salon or a thematic site and ... You find dozens and hundreds of models and manufacturers. How, then, can you make the right choice?
Introducing the complete guide to choosing a charging cable for your smartphone.
The first problem that buyers think about is often the choice between original and non-original cables. On the one hand, the well-known logo seems to be a guarantee of reliability and a long service life of the accessory. On the other hand, not everyone wants to overpay for a promoted name. If you have your own reasons not to buy an original cable, but to choose a suitable product from a third-party manufacturer, read below what criteria you should pay attention to before buying.
For Android smartphones
Due to standardization, most modern phones have one of two connector types, microUSB or Type-C. The latter is less common, since it began to gain popularity relatively recently.
The USB Type-C connector has received a symmetrical shape and when choosing a cable for it, one should take into account a very important nuance: which interface the smartphone works with, USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 / 3.1. Often Type-C is only a form, and there will be no advantages in the form of high data transfer rates or an increase in maximum current strength, because inside there is still the same USB 2.0 with a bandwidth of 480 Mbps. Therefore, there will be no point in buying an expensive USB 3.0 Type-C cable.
In addition to this nuance, cables with a Type-C connector and microUSB are chosen according to the same criteria.
- Plug and build quality
Before making a purchase, try to get as close a look at the cable as possible. If you buy an accessory on the Internet, give preference to sites with high-quality, high-resolution photos that can be enlarged. The cable should not have kinks, protruding plastic, curved contacts of different sizes. The plug should not dangle or look flimsy.
It is worth paying attention to the connection between the cable and the plug. This is a very vulnerable place for breaks, so you need to give preference to models with a dense rigid plastic corrugation at the plug.
- Shape and length
The most common three forms of cables are flat ("noodles"), round and twisted ("spring"). Each type has its own pros and cons. Flat cables are less tangled and more compact, but if the cable is of poor quality and too thin, it will quickly break. Round cables serve for a long time, but it is worth choosing not rigid models, but flexible ones, because they are more comfortable in everyday use. Coiled cables are a good choice for a car, as they will not get tangled underfoot and even reach the rear passenger seat if necessary. But if the twisted cable gets tangled, you will have to spend a lot of time to put it in order.
The optimal cable length is determined only by the user, but most often cables for smartphones are one meter or a little more than a meter. And if needed, any decent mobile accessory store has short USB cables and accessories from 1.8 meters in length and more.
- Braid
- Maximum amperage
If you do not go shopping with a portable USB tester, you will not be able to determine for sure whether the cable is giving out the declared amperage or the manufacturer is cheating you. But to protect yourself from unscrupulous sellers, consider the type and price of the device. Since there are no miracles in the world, a 50-ruble cable will still not be able to charge a powerful smartphone or tablet, and a USB cable thin as a thread will not provide a 2.4 A current transfer. This is contrary to the laws of physics and logic.
But remember that you can buy a defective product both from an unknown Chinese seller and in the brand store of an influential mega-corporation. Therefore, choose a product in stores that provide a quality guarantee and clearly describe the return procedure.
- Extra features
If you buy a cable not only for charging a smartphone, but also for connecting a mobile device to a computer, choose models that describe the possibility of file transfer and compatibility with specific operating systems.
Some cables are equipped with an LED indicator of operation, which not only looks beautiful, but also informs the owner about the health of the gadget.
If your smartphone requires constant recharging, then the daily connection of the cable will loosen the power connector sooner or later. To avoid spending money on repairing your smartphone, buy a magnetic cable with a detachable plug. The contact pad of this cable fits into the phone connector and cannot be removed, and when you need to charge the device, just bring the rest of the cable to the already installed plug. And the charge goes, and the smartphone is protected from dust and dirt inside.
For iPhone
Cables for iPhones can be considered before purchase in the same way as cables with a microUSB connector. However, if you want to choose a proven cable for your "apple", while buying the original is expensive, but you don't want to have an analogue, there is a way out - look for three cherished letters on the package.
Abbreviation for MFi.
MFi stands for Made For iPhone / iPad / iPod. These accessories are designed for Apple products and, most importantly, have been certified by Apple to be of proper quality for analogue accessories. The iPhone will not swear on them, and a connection error message will definitely not appear on the smartphone screen. In the Partner online store, you can buy MFi cables, as well as verify the authenticity of the certification on the official website https://mfi.apple.com/MFiWeb/getAPS, if you enter the Partner name in the search criteria.
Enjoy the shopping!
Phones are usually discharged at the most inopportune moment, when the time for charging is catastrophically short. We turn on the first charger we come across with wiring and wait ... Sometimes the charge happens quickly, and sometimes it takes a treacherous long time, and after a while we again remain without connection.
Consider the process of charging a phone, all its components. And we will try to give recommendations that will help you choose the right chargers and always stay in touch.
Modern communication devices are charged from 5 Volts, it is this voltage that is present at the output of the USB connector of a computer, router, TV, and so on. This connector, as a rule, is supplied to chargers plugged into an outlet. But in addition to voltage, an important parameter is the current with which the charge occurs.
If we talk about a computer, then the standard maximum current value for USB 2.0 is 0.5 A (ampere), which is not much for modern devices. If the device for charging requires a higher current (1-2 A), then charging will take an excruciatingly long time, and may never be completed.
Another USB 3.0 standard (the connector is denoted by blue plastic inside) provides a current of up to 1 A, which is much better, but such connectors are only found on modern computers (TVs, routers and other devices are usually equipped with a USB 2.0 connector or generally USB 1.1). That is, if we need to charge the phone from a computer, we should, if possible, choose the blue USB 3.0 connector, the device will charge much faster.
It is no coincidence that universal chargers have different prices, in most cases they differ in the maximum possible charge current - the higher the price, the higher the current, as a rule, and therefore the potentially shorter charging time of the device (in this case, we do not take into account the markup for the brand and design) ...
Of course, it is important to know the capabilities of your device in order to choose a charging with the required parameters. As a rule, most manufacturers indicate a maximum current of 1 A. But not all of them actually provide it. To compare different chargers, we will use a tester that shows current and voltage, as well as simulating a consumer with different consumption currents.
Ideally, the charger should provide 5 volts and the maximum current that the device being charged can draw. But in reality, the picture is different. To exclude the influence of the cable connecting the charger and the phone, the tester will be connected directly to the charger.
Test 1 (declared 5 Volts and 1 A):
We see that the voltage is 120 mV lower than the declared one and the current is lower by 70 mA.
Test 2 (declared 5 Volts and 1 A):
We see that the voltage is slightly higher than the declared one and the current differs from the declared one by only 40 mA.
Test 3 (declared 5 Volts and 1 A):
We see that the voltage is slightly higher than the declared one and the current corresponds to the declared one.
Test 4 (declared 5 Volts and 0.7 A):
The voltage and current are significantly less than those of the previous ones, do not expect fast charging from this device.
Test 5 (declared 5 Volts and 1 A):
Voltage and current are as stated.
Test 6 (parameters not indicated):
The voltage and current are less than the previous ones, do not expect fast charging from this device.
Test 6 (charger combined with a block of outlets, declared 5 Volts and 2.4 A):
Quite decent parameters.
Test 7 (charger combined with a tee of sockets, declared 5 Volts and 1 A):
Very good performance.
As you can see, not all manufacturers were able to provide the declared characteristics, and in those cases where the voltage is lower than the required one and the current is less, we will naturally get a longer charging of the phone or tablet.
The second important element in the charging process is the cable that connects the charger to the phone. There are many options for such cables, there are even backlit ones. However, their main parameter is the material of the conductive cores (preferably copper) and the thickness of the core (the thicker, the less the cable will affect the charging process). Let's test several cables.
Test 0 (the tester is directly connected to the charger):
Test 1 (cable included with your Sony Xperia Z3 phone):
Not a bad cable for a current of 1 A, at 2 A there is an overload and loss of parameters.
Test 2 (cable purchased separately):
Good cable for 1A, loss of parameters at 2A.
Test 3 (cable purchased separately):
Bad cable, charging will be very slow.
Test 4 (cable purchased separately):
The leader in fast charging, according to phonearena.com, is the Samsung Galaxy S6 (1 hour 18 minutes with a 2,550 mAh battery). In second place is the Oppo Find 7a (1 hour 22 minutes with a battery capacity of 2 800 mAh), in third place is the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (1 hour 35 minutes with a battery capacity of 3220 mAh),
Google Nexus 6 is in fourth place (1 hour 38 minutes with a battery capacity of 3 220 mAh), in fifth place is HTC One M9 (1 hour 46 minutes with a battery capacity of 2 840 mAh). Also, fast charging technology is supported by: LG G3, OnePlus One, Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G4, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Apple iPhone 6, Motorola Moto G, Sony Xperia Z3 and a number of others.
So, if charging speed is important, you should choose phones with support for QuickCharge technology.
Naturally, a fast charging speed is possible only when using high-quality chargers and cables that support the required currents and voltages. Of course, it's best to use the charger that came with your phone. But if it is bought separately, then when choosing it is worth considering the above parameters.
Are all micro-USB cables the same? Why prices can differ several times? Which cable should you buy? I will try to answer these questions with practical examples and experiments. Welcome to the big top!
This article is dedicated to ordinary consumers who are familiar with physics as part of the school curriculum. But the test results can be of interest to advanced users as well.
If you have a device from Apple, and you think that this does not concern you, and the big top is not for you, then you are very much mistaken. You will read why at the end.
The data transfer speed via the micro-USB cable does not cause any complaints in most cases. But with charging devices, the situation is a little more complicated.
Let's first take a look at the fingers of how the process of charging mobile devices works.
There is a charger that can deliver current with a certain voltage and a certain strength. Usually this is USB charging, which produces a current with a voltage of 5 V (there are also fast charging technologies with increased voltage, but we will not touch them). The current strength (sometimes just the charging power is indicated) may be different for each charger. For example, with one device in the kit there will be a charger with a maximum current of 1 A, and with another 2.5 A. Naturally, if the device cannot consume a current of more than 1 A, then whatever charging you connect - 1 A or 100 A , there will be no difference.
There is a mobile device: smartphone, tablet, watch, etc. that needs to be charged. The mobile device has a battery and a charge controller. The charge controller regulates, using its algorithms, the strength of the consumed current.
The charger and the mobile device are connected by a cable. In our case, micro-USB. There are a huge number of offers on the market. Thousands of models from famous and unknown brands. Cables can be bought at a stall near the house, in a communication salon, in a large shopping center, on the Internet, just everywhere. A strange situation arises with cables. One cable charges your device faster than another, under the same conditions. In some cases, the differences can be several times. It is mainly about the resistance of the power lines of the cable.
To make it clearer, let's go straight to the practical test.
Our tools will be:
- 2.5 ohm resistor (5 V, 2 A)
- USB tester Keweisi
- Micro-USB adapter (female) - USB A (female)
- Xiaomi 5000 mAh battery pack and Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone borrowed from his wife
- Tronsmart TS-UC5PC charger. I would like to highlight this device separately. On specialized sites there are disassembly of this device. This is just an amazing memory. I bought it a couple of months ago at a discount, replaced my excellent ORICO charger (they also have excellent chargers), tk. I needed a port with Quick Charge 2.0 support. TS-UC5PC has 5 independent channels. 4 of which are with VoltIQ technology (in fact, this is just a "smart binding" of Data contacts to activate fast charging of any devices with such support, including Apple, a number of Samsung, etc.), and 1 with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0. This port is capable of delivering voltages of 5 V, 9 V and 12 V. The charger can easily withstand a load of 2 A simultaneously on all 5 ports, I personally checked this with resistors, with a very slight voltage drop. According to the specification, the device withstands 2.4 A per channel.
We will test in two stages. The first step is to check the power drop at the end of the cable using a resistor. The second step is to check the current that the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone and Xiaomi battery pack will consume when charging.
Our artists:
Cable Lg, 120 cm - we will denote it as LG1. Comes with many devices of the same name and is sold separately. Marked on 20 AWG cable for power lines. Thick and very tight. It costs from $ 2 to $ 3 on eBay and, we met offline for both 300 and 500 rubles.
Cable Tronsmart, 180 cm - we will denote it as TR1. Comes with some of the same name chargers, and is also sold separately in packs of several pieces. Thick and very tight. It costs about $ 2 (in terms of one cable) on Aliexpress and similar sites.
Cable Sony EC803, 100 cm - we will designate it as SO1. Comes with some of the devices of the same name and is sold separately. Medium thickness, tight. It costs about $ 2.
Cable Sony EC801, 100 cm - we will designate it as SO2. Comes with some of the devices of the same name and is sold separately. Medium thickness, tight. It costs about $ 2.
Cable Sony EC450, 100 cm - we will designate it as SO3. Once came complete with some devices of the same name. Thick and tight, with ferrite beads. It is rarely found on sale.
Battery cable Xiaomi, 22 cm - we will denote it as XI1. Comes with battery packs. Flat, flexible. The exterior is not very impressive, because he is already a year and a half.
Noname cable - we will call it QC1, 200 cm. This cable is sold only by one seller (he is). Perhaps he is produced. The Data pins are already closed, the cable is for charging only. Medium thickness, flexible. This is a universal cable for activating fast charging (if supported by the device) on any charger. The same seller has similar cables for 3 and 5 meters, both micro-USB and Lightning (for Apple devices). Prices are above average.
Noname cable - we will call it QC2, 65-180 cm, "spring". The seller and manufacturer is the same as for the previous cable. The Data pins are already closed, the cable is for charging only. Medium thickness, flexible.
Cable ASUS- we will call it AS1, 100 cm. Comes with some ASUS devices (in this particular case, Nexus 7 2013), sold separately. Medium thickness, flexible.
Noname cable - we will call it QC3, 40 cm. Sold in Fasttech store. There is an 18 AWG mark on the cable. Average thickness. The Data pins are already closed, the cable is for charging only. It is indecently cheap - about $ 1.
And now the purebred pribluds (or cables from Uncle Liao's cellars). There are simply hundreds of different types. They are sold everywhere, both online and offline. And even in the stores of reputable retailers, you can find them. They are often very cheap. For the test, I'll take 8 different pieces. I have a box at home with about 50 different micro-USB cables, which I ordered at different times (looking ahead, this box with "junk" cables according to tests). Very often they are sold under the brand (of course, counterfeit) Samsung, etc.
Noname cable - let's call it CN1, 23 cm. Triple - microUSB, Lightning, Apple 30-pin. Cloth braid. Medium thickness, flexible.
Noname cable - we will call it CN2, 300 cm. Fabric braid. Medium thickness, flexible.
Noname cable - we will call it CN3, 100 cm. Thin, flexible.
Noname cable - we will call it CN4, 100 cm. Flat, flexible.
Noname cable - we will call it CN5, 80 cm. Elastic.
Noname cable - we will call it CN6, 200 cm. Fabric braid. Flat, flexible.
Noname cable - we will call it CN7, 100 cm. Thick, flexible.
Noname cable - we will call it CN8, 100 cm. Marking on the cable is 26 AWG / 28 AWG.
Power drop
We connect the resistor and measure the power immediately at the output from the memory - 10.2 watts. Voltage 5.17 V, current 1.97 A.
Now let's measure the power at the end of the cables and summarize all the results in a diagram.
LG1 8.82 W (4.82 V, 1.83 A)
TR1 8.34 W (4.69 V, 1.78 A)
QC1 8.33 W (4.71 V, 1.77 A)
SO1 7.97 W (4.58 V, 1.74 A)
SO2 8.19 W (4.63 V, 1.77 A)
SO3 7.42 W (4.62 V, 1.68 A)
QC3 8.87 W (4.85 V, 1.83 A)
QC2 8.22 W (4.68 V, 1.78 A)
AS1 8.19 W (4.63 V, 1.77 A)
XI1 8.27 W (4.75 V, 1.74 A)
CN1 8.9 W (4.84 V, 1.84 A)
CN2 4.56 W (3.48 V, 1.31 A)
CN3 5.42 W (3.79 V, 1.43 A)
CN4 5.34W (3.76V, 1.42A)
CN5 5.73 W (3.90 V, 1.47 A)
CN6 5.84 W (3.92 V, 1.49 A)
CN7 5.18 W (3.7 V, 1.4 A)
CN8 7.83 W (4.55 V, 1.72 A)
So, we see a poor result with the vast majority of cheap and unnamed cables. Only the CN1 cable surprised me. I never used it after the purchase, I just ordered it up to the heap.
Now let's measure the current strength of the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone (50% charge level). Of course, this is not a laboratory study, but it will give some information. The charge controller in devices works according to its own algorithm. The tester in all cases showed an output voltage of about 5.2 V, so it will only consider the amperage.
The result is consistent with the previous test. Branded cables show a decent result. Cheap and unnamed cables perform incredibly poorly. For example, the current strength with an LG cable is 4.5 (!) Times higher than with the worst unnamed cable. Sony branded cables perform mediocre.
To clarify the result, let's take another device - the Xiaomi battery pack (almost discharged). Let's see what results the cables show with it.
The picture repeats itself.
Quality cables can be considered: LG, Xiaomi, QC1, QC2, QC3, Tronsmart, CN1. Sony and Asus cables show an average result, which is not very good for branded cables. The rest of the unnamed cables are 90% (roughly speaking) of what they are trying to sell you for cheap, full of rubbish.
Apple Lightning
In my review, I did not include the test of cables with an Apple Lightning connector, because I did not have the necessary adapter to connect the resistor. But in real tests with devices, the cables behave identically to the one described. I have two original cables ripped, as is usually the case with Apple cables, at the base. There are no problems with them. But 3 purchased cables in the range from $ 2 to $ 5 show a significant drawdown in current strength. One in general gives out only 0.26 A. This does not mean that you need to run and buy a cable from Apple for $ 20. For $ 20 and cables ripped at the base, Apple deserves only a savory slap in the face. You just need to choose the right and tested cable (I think that there are already enough recommendations on the specialized forums). And in urgent cases I use this adapter for a few cents:
No problem. Combined with the cable, LG charges iPad and iPhone as well as original cables.
conclusions
Never buy cables from other than reputable brands (LG, Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, etc.) if you don't know exactly what you want. The cable must be thick and tight (of course, there are exceptions - in the review you got acquainted with the QC1, QC2 and Xiaomi cables). If you have a suspicion that it is a fake, for example, a very low price offline - just do not buy such a cable.All other cables can be bought only if you clearly know that this cable is of high quality (someone tested it). Never listen to the advice of consultants: "But take our branded branded cable EurosetSvyaznoyKabel, everyone takes it and they are happy." Until the consultant shows you the measurements of this cable by a tester, his words are worthless. Never rely on customer ratings when buying cables, for example, on Aliexpress. If you see a Samsung cable with a price of $ 1, several thousand orders and a 98% customer rating, then most likely this cable is just fake junk.
More specifically, one of the most optimal cables is the one from LG. It can be bought in two colors offline in almost any communication store or online (on eBay and it costs from $ 2 to $ 3). If you need a long cable (2, 3, 5 meters), then take a closer look at the cables from the store (aka) - the price is slightly higher than usual, but you know what you are paying for. If you need several cables of different lengths, then buy cable sets from Tronsmart (there are a lot of them in online stores). If you need a short cable for your battery pack, take a cheap cable from Fasttech, for example.
P.S. I forgot to write a small comment about the Data closed cables from the review (three pieces). These cables may also be of interest to those who charge devices from a laptop. With these cables, many devices think that they are connected to a memory device, and not a computer, and begin to consume current at their maximum consumption. Laptop USB ports will give everything they can. For example, my ASUS laptop with such cables can easily give 1.5 A, although this is not included in the specifications. At the same time, the old Lenovo is limited to 0.5 A in any case.
P.S. II. Do you know which is the most popular micro-USB cable on Aliexpress? ... 96% of positive reviews from 21,004! Any colors. Sound familiar? Yes, you are not mistaken, this is the CN4 cable from the review.
