The Worst Charging Cable You Can Use For Your Device—It’s Draining Your Battery Faster
April 10, 2025 by Lisa Cupido
iPhones are a pricey investment and their batteries feel like they lose charging power faster than ever before. Between the money we spend replacing our phones every few years, buying new storage space, and investing in accessories, it can feel like the added expense in our lives no one saw coming.
But we need our phones for so many daily tasks that it’s hard to think of living without one. You may be tempted to cut corners in some places that don’t feel like they matter as much, such as charging cables. All cables look the same and, to the untrained eye, work the same — so why splurge on an Apple brand charging cable when the one at a gas station or Amazon that costs $5 will get the job done?
That’s the big problem, though: they aren’t one and the same. This is the worst charging cable you can use for your device — it’s draining your battery faster.
Non-MFI Charging Cables
A “non-MFI” charging cable is one that is “Not For iPhone.” Apple phones have specific charging needs that require the charging cables and charging blocks that are designed for the exact speed required to sufficiently and efficiently charge the iPhone. A non-MFI charging cable is usually a much cheaper one that can potentially damage your phone.
These cables may not be optimized to deliver the right amount of power to your iPhone. They may not meet the safety standards set by Amazon, and this can result in damage to your phone’s port, battery, or other internal components.
Extreme temperatures are death to iPhone batteries, and another potential issue with using non-MFI cables is that they can lack safety regulations that keep them from causing the phone to overheat during a charging session, which can lead to battery degradation.
It’s not difficult to spot a non-MFI charging cable, and in fact, your phone will let you know. When you try charging with one, your “iPhone should send you a message that says, “This accessory may not be supported" or "This cable or accessory is not certified.”
Avoid the risks associated with non-MFI cables by only using MFI-certified cables that you purchase from a trusted retailer. The “MFI” logo should be printed somewhere on the packaging or cable to confirm its validity.