Lightning Cable to USB .. Do I need a genuine Apple cable

WLM21

I want to use my wife's old iPhone to take some videos but will need a cable to link it with my PC.

I had a 3 way cable but it is no longer working .. why, who knows

I've always just been content with buying cheap cables for my Android phones and even previously with my wife's old iPhones.

Is it really worth buying the genuine Apple cable .. is this guaranteed to last a decent length of time ?

My own phone Nokia 7+ is well over 4 years old but the original cable is still working 100%, for file transfer and charging

Sadly her new phone has a USB-C to lightning cable

Mark_d

I would buy a good quality cable (eg, Anker) or an Apple cable.  However there are also various solutions which would allow file transfer using your wifi connection.  Maybe using something like Dropbox would be simplest and easiest?

DullGreyGuy

WLM21 said:

I want to use my wife's old iPhone to take some videos but will need a cable to link it with my PC.

I had a 3 way cable but it is no longer working .. why, who knows

I've always just been content with buying cheap cables for my Android phones and even previously with my wife's old iPhones.

Is it really worth buying the genuine Apple cable .. is this guaranteed to last a decent length of time ?

My own phone Nokia 7+ is well over 4 years old but the original cable is still working 100%, for file transfer and charging

Sadly her new phone has a USB-C to lightning cable

So why not just use the new phone cable if its lightning?

There are three levels with Apple... their own products, certified products and uncertified products. All will work fine but if you use the final option you are may to get a warning message about it being uncertified but can easily dismiss it. 

Had many Amazon Basic cables that were always fine and didnt trigger messages

WLM21

Mark_d said:

I would buy a good quality cable (eg, Anker) or an Apple cable.  However there are also various solutions which would allow file transfer using your wifi connection.  Maybe using something like Dropbox would be simplest and easiest?

I was actually trying out video transfer this morning and using VLC Media player did work, although a wee bit of a faff.

Using iTunes has worked before, but now my cable isn't working that option is out. I remember a while ago I filmed several clips and all the short clips transferred without any problem, but the long clips were a headache. Maybe with a better cable, things would improve.

i can film with my Nokia and I have never had any problems transferring files, but the camera is better on the iPhone, especially with 3rd party cameras apps

WLM21

DullGreyGuy said:

So why not just use the new phone cable if its lightning?

There are three levels with Apple... their own products, certified products and uncertified products. All will work fine but if you use the final option you are may to get a warning message about it being uncertified but can easily dismiss it. 

Had many Amazon Basic cables that were always fine and didnt trigger messages

My PC would need a USB A connection .. her new phone takes the USB C fitting

DullGreyGuy

WLM21 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

So why not just use the new phone cable if its lightning?

There are three levels with Apple... their own products, certified products and uncertified products. All will work fine but if you use the final option you are may to get a warning message about it being uncertified but can easily dismiss it. 

Had many Amazon Basic cables that were always fine and didnt trigger messages

My PC would need a USB A connection .. her new phone takes the USB C fitting

then just get a USBC to USBA adapter, more likely to be used again in the future as more things adopt USBC as the standard. 

Newcad

As touched on- why use a cable?

I do most file transfers between devices over my wifi, many 'File Managment' apps make it easy to connect to your wifi and transfer over your local connection, or as said Dropbox etc. could be used if you don't mind using the cloud.

I also have a drive plugged into the USB port of my hub/router so can put/save things on there from any device that's connected to my wifi and pick them up later on another device when that's connected.

oldernonethewiser

I have always bought cheap cables for Apple devices from Poundland or similar.  Not an issue.

Andy_L

WLM21 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

So why not just use the new phone cable if its lightning?

There are three levels with Apple... their own products, certified products and uncertified products. All will work fine but if you use the final option you are may to get a warning message about it being uncertified but can easily dismiss it. 

Had many Amazon Basic cables that were always fine and didnt trigger messages

My PC would need a USB A connection .. her new phone takes the USB C fitting

I'm surprised a PC hasn't got a USB A socket on it. 

I'm confused

the new phone has a USB C socket & a USB C plug to lightning plug cable?

So why do you need a new USB to lightning cable

WLM21

Newcad said:

I also have a drive plugged into the USB port of my hub/router so can put/save things on there from any device that's connected to my wifi and pick them up later on another device when that's connected.

That looks like a brilliant idea .. could you explain a little more please and perhaps suggest a suitable drive.

WLM21

Mark_d said:

I would buy a good quality cable (eg, Anker) or an Apple cable.  However there are also various solutions which would allow file transfer using your wifi connection.  Maybe using something like Dropbox would be simplest and easiest?

I've just bought this .. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384185343048

from the Anker shop on eBay, for £7.99, so I hope it does the trick.

I need a cable anyway to charge the phone .. for some reason my wife's phone has first option on her charger