Amazon Basics Lightning Cable 6 ft Review: Worth It?

Amazon Basics MFi USB-A to Lightning Cable, 6 ft, 2 Pack

Photos coming soon.

The short version

Buy it if

Households with Lightning iPhones or iPads that need spare long cables
Anyone charging from a USB-A wall plug, computer port or car socket

Skip it if

Your devices use USB-C, as iPhone 15 and later models do
Your cables get yanked, bent and stuffed in bags every day

What owners like

Far cheaper than Apple's own cable while still MFi certified
Charging speed is adequate for everyday use
Offered in several lengths, so it is easy to match a spot

Common complaints

Thin plastic jacket stresses visibly when bent
Some connection problems when first plugging in during testing
Durability under daily stress is questionable compared with braided cables

Based on TechGearLab's Lightning cable tests, Macworld's review of the Amazon Basics Lightning line, and Woot's product listing.

Research scores

Performance 6.0 adequate charging, but testers hit connection problems on first plug in

Build quality 5.5 thin plastic jacket that stresses when bent and wears faster than braided cables

Ease of use 7.5 MFi certified with a long 6 foot reach

Value 8.0 two certified cables for a fraction of Apple's price

Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.

Ownership

Times bought1

Price range$

Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.

What it does

A two pack of 6 foot Apple MFi certified USB-A to Lightning charging and sync cables under Amazon's store brand, now sold as the Amazon Basics MFi-Certified USB-A to Lightning Cable.

MFi certified for use with Lightning iPhones, iPads and iPods
Extra protection layer at the Lightning and USB ends to reduce fraying
Unibody connectors built for a secure fit
Long 6 foot run for outlets that sit far from a bed or chair
Sold in white and black

A cheap way to keep a long certified Lightning cable by the bed, couch or car for older iPhones and iPads. The trade-off is durability: the plain plastic jacket is thin, editorial testers found it stresses visibly when bent and had some connection trouble, so rough daily use will wear it out sooner than a braided cable.

How it compares

Anker PowerLine+ II Lightning Cable, 6 ftTechGearLab's Editors' Choice, with a braided nylon jacket that holds up better to rough use$$

Amazon Basics Nylon Braided USB-A to Lightning Cable, 6 ftSame brand with a braided jacket, a better pick if cables fray often$

Amazon Basics MFi USB-C to Lightning CableThe right version if charging from a USB-C power adapter or laptop port$

Specs

Connectors: USB-A to Lightning
Length: 6 ft (1.8 m)
Pack: 2 cables
Certification: Apple MFi, with Apple's C89 chip
Charging current: Up to 2.4 A
Data transfer: Up to 480 Mbps
Bend rating: 10,000 bends at 90 degrees (listing for the 6 ft 2 pack)

Questions

Are Amazon Basics Lightning cables Apple certified?

Yes. They are MFi certified and use Apple's C89 chip, per the listing.

How long do Amazon Basics Lightning cables last?

The 6 foot 2 pack is rated for 10,000 bends at 90 degrees. An earlier version was rated at 4,000 bends, and testers found the thin jacket wears faster than braided cables.

How fast does the Amazon Basics Lightning cable charge?

It supports up to 2.4 A of charging current, and TechGearLab rated its charging speed as adequate.

Can the cable sync data?

Yes. It transfers data at up to 480 Mbps.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-01. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.