Can a Cheap Charging Cable Damage My Phone? A Closer Look (2024)

Imagine buying the newest, greatest phone, only for it to lose half of its battery life in the first year. This may sound extreme, but it's not totally out of the question when you use a cheap charger.

Cheap chargers can do a lot more harm than good, so they usually aren't worth the savings. If you still feel reluctant to pay up for a better charger, consider how it can affect you. Read on to learn more.

Why Cheap Chargers Are Bad

Cheap chargers may seem like a good deal because they sometimes look very similar to a genuine Android or Apple charger. A lot of people believe the myth that a cheap charger will help their budget in the long run.

However, it may be the exact opposite because cheap chargers often fail to meet security requirements. Some chargers may not provide the same amount of power at all times, and that can damage your device.

At best, your phone may stop charging as it should, or you may need to wait longer for it to charge. But at worst, a cheap charger may cause an electric shock or even a fire. The battery may also explode if you use a cheap charger.

Whether your new phone doesn't come with a charger or block or you lose your charger, you can replace it. You just need to be very careful when choosing between USB cables and other charging options.

Potential Issues That Can Arise

When aiming to follow battery charging advice, you should consider why you should avoid cheap chargers. Using any off-brand charger may not cause problems if the charger is from a reputable brand.

However, a lot of cheaper options can lead to some issues, and those issues could damage your phone or worse. Before you buy or plug in a cheap charger, consider some things that may happen.

These issues may not be as significant as fires. But they can affect the battery life of your phone, and they may lead to other problems over time.

No Charge or Fake Charge

In some cases, you may notice your phone doesn't charge at all when you plug it in. This can happen if the charger isn't sending enough watts to the device, and you might not notice if you plug your phone in and walk away.

However, if you come back an hour later and the percentage is the same, there's a good chance the charger's the issue. You may also notice the percentage doesn't change even if it does look like it's charging.

Depending on the charger, it may show the lightning bolt like any other charger would. But if you leave it for an hour and the percentage doesn't budge, you may have an issue with fake charging.

Both of these things make it hard to properly charge your phone. You may think the charger is working, so you waste a lot of time leaving the phone to charge, but you may find it doesn't do any good.

Battery Percentage Drops

If your charger won't charge your phone correctly, you may start to see the percentage drop. A drop can happen when you leave your phone on a charger for a significant amount of time.

You may leave your phone to charge for multiple hours. If the charger isn't working, your phone will use its current battery supply to handle background tasks, like checking for notifications or monitoring your location.

The battery percentage may drop just because the phone isn't charging. Even if you turn off background activity, your phone may use up battery to stay on, and the charger won't be enough to compensate for it.

Stops Charging at a Certain Percentage

Another thing that can happen when you use a cheap charger is that your phone will appear to charge. It may gain a decent amount of battery when you leave the phone and the cable in the wall.

However, the battery may stop charging after it reaches a certain percentage. Now, Apple has released a feature that tracks your charging habits, so it may stop the charging process.

But if you charge your phone outside of that normal schedule, the problem could be due to the charger. Consider waiting an hour or two to see if your charger starts to work again. If not, you may want to get a new cable.

Battery Dies Early

Using a cheap charger may also cause your phone to turn off after it drops to a specific percentage. If you use a knockoff charger, the charger may cause issues with the battery your phone shows you.

As you use a phone, its battery life can decrease, so it may not last as long anyway. This issue may also be due to the chip if there's damage, which a bad charger may cause.

Either way, you should have someone check it out to see if using a new charger may help. And you can get a new battery in your phone to help extend its lifespan.

How to Find a Good Quality Charger

It's important to know that a cheap charger is bad, but that doesn't fully solve your problem. You should also consider how to find a good charger that will help with battery life.

That way, your phone battery charges the way it should, and you can get more life out of the phone. A good charger can also save you money over time since you won't have to replace the charger after a few months.

Here are a few tips to consider and try when you want to properly charge your phone.

Start With the Phone Brand

An excellent place to start when searching for a charger is to buy a charger from the brand that made your phone. So if you have the iPhone 13, you should start with an Apple charger.

You can look for Apple brand chargers online or in stores, and you can buy an adapter if your phone doesn't come with one. However, you may also want to browse the Apple store in general.

In addition to its own chargers, Apple sells genuine iPhone chargers from other brands. That way, you can make sure you get a charger that won't damage your device.

Look for Made for iPhone

If you want to expand your charger search even more, you can look at other retailers and brands. When it comes to buying an Apple charger, look for something that says "Made for iPhone" and has the Apple logo.

While some fake chargers may have that, it can be a way to filter out some cheap options. The Made for iPhone note can help you figure out if a charger follows Apple standards.

If a charger doesn't have that on its packaging, you can move one. Maybe the charger is fine, but you don't need to risk it when plenty of good chargers do have the note on their boxes.

Consider Certifications

Especially when buying from sites outside of Apple, consider if the charger has any certifications. If you're looking for an iPhone charger, look for MFi certification from Apple.

Devices with MFi certification work well with Apple devices, so you can rest easy knowing that your phone can charge well. Then, you will be able to use the charger and your phone for much longer.

Another type of certification to look for is CE or RHoS, both of which have strict safety requirements. If you use a charger with any type of certification will give you peace of mind, and you can charge your phone more efficiently.

Compare to an Official Charger

If you aren't sure how a charger will work, compare it to the official charger that came with your phone. Put the two chargers next to each other and look at the USB or lightning connection.

Consider if those connections are the same size and shape and how big the differences are. You may also want to look at the technical information on the adapter of an official and a cheap charger.

If you come across anything that makes you feel uneasy, don't use the knockoff charger. It's not worth risking the safety of your phone or of you or the people around you.

You Get What You Pay For

Like many other things in life, you often get what you pay for when buying a charger. If you skimp and buy the cheapest option, you will probably get minimal results at best or damage your phone at worst.

On the other hand, if you invest in a good charger, you may be able to use it much longer and much more often. You won't have to worry about hurting your phone every time you plug it in.

Sometimes, paying a little more upfront can make you feel safer to use and charge your phone.

How Will You Maintain Battery Life?

Battery life has been getting better, but you still want to make the most of what you have. Before you buy a cheap charger to top off the battery, consider if it's worth the risk.

If you want to keep your phone in good condition and not worry about fires or other problems, you should stick with good chargers. Then, you'll be able to use your phone how you please without risking your safety.

Do you need a fast charging cable that won't damage your device? View our selection and buy one today.