If given the choice between spending big-time money on Apple accessories and going the more affordable route with cheap charging accessories, who wouldn’t choose the latter? The assumption we have sometimes is that a charger is a charger is a charger. In other words: aren’t two different chargers and charging cables doing the same exact job? Why spend more money?
Here’s where that logic becomes faulty, though: the accessories you use matter. You need to always be sure your charging accessories are up to the task put forth by your phone, and your phone and its model doesn’t necessarily have the same charging needs as another phone.
Before you spend a few dollars on charging accessories, here are four things experts say can happen to your iPhone if you continually use the cheapest charging accessories.
Overheating
One of the biggest concerns experts have when it comes to using cheap accessories and chargers is that they aren’t properly attuned to your phone’s needs. As a result, they can deliver too much of a charge at a too-rapid pace that overheats your device. When your battery becomes too hot, it starts to degrade. If you make it a habit to use these accessories all the time, this can result in battery failure.
Too-Slow Charge
Although this may not be as detrimental to your phone as overheating, cheap accessories can charge your phone too slowly. You may place your phone on its charger and, even hours later, discover it barely charged 50 percent. Your device is not meant to be constantly charging, but a too-slow charging session may lead you to charging it far too often.
Fire Hazard
Even if the risk is low, there have been instances where people have used off-brand chargers and it has resulted in a fire. The problem stems from equipment that is faulty and has not undergone rigorous testing the way Apple or Apple-certified accessories have.
Voltage Issues
A cheap charger may not charge smoothly, but rather cause voltage fluctuations when powering your device. This can lead to battery damage over time.
You don’t have to purchase all Apple brand chargers and cables. But after having spent hundreds of dollars on an iPhone, it’s important to purchase accessories that will support it and not cause battery damage. For that reasons, always opt for Apple-certified accessories. Many of these are cheaper than Apple, but you can feel confident that they are safe and effective for your phone.
