So all my USB cords are pooping out on me, all the time. I try to be as gentle as possible, but these things seem to hardly have a years worth of use.
Is this a ‘get what you pay for’ situation? Because I often get varied cords for somewhat cheap. Are these cords always delicate? The way things are set up in my apartment, I need long ones… is length a factor?
Thanks.
A year sounds pretty good to me. I get months at best.
Moving this to IMHO.
I use Anker cables, mostly 6 foot lengths. I have some that I’ve been using for over 5 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever had one go bad on me.
What applications are you in sing these cords? Something that requires constant plugging and unplugging like a charger? Those definitly go quicker than permanent installation cords. I had 15 ft cords run under the carpet for years with no problems until I finally just got wireless mouse n keyboard.
I also swear by Anker cables. They cost twice as much as the cheapest initially but they last ten times as long. In fact I can’t remember one failing me on over 5 years use in 3 different devices. I misplace them before they fail seemingly.
Anker. Amazon. You won’t be sorry.
If are constantly plugging and unplugging, perhaps you might tell us the reason–and then perhaps someone can suggest an alternative approach.
Huh. I didn’t even think about permanently installed cords, and thought just of charging cords that are plugged/unplugged up to several times a day. One of those only lasts me a few months before the charging rate degrades or the connection starts to fail. For a cord that is permanently in place, I don’t see why one should fail at all.
I get years of use from the USB cords that charge my phone overnight every night. They don’t get much bending or twisting though; they just sit in a neat coil on the nightstand with one end at the ready and the other end down behind the nightstand where the 110V mini-brick is. And I’m not an oaf while plugging and unplugging. Neither does my phone spend time in dirty / dusty environments where debris might get into the connector.
OTOH I have had cheapo cords I bought at a convenience market while traveling fail pretty quickly; like months. Although that cord gets folded / coiled up and stuffed in a laptop bag every day I’m traveling, then stretched out to use that next night at the hotel. Over and over.
I’ve had the cord that i plug my phone into when i drive since well before the pandemic. I don’t use it every day, but it gets used regularly.
I have had USB C cords fail. They seem to have a vulnerability that way. But most of mine haven’t.
I use Anker, as well, but with the way I and my kids treat our cords, apparently, they only end up lasting about a year or so for me, if I’m lucky.
I don’t remember having had a USB cord fail, but I know people who have. One difference may be that I seldom use a device while it’s plugged in.
My gf’s cords fail quickly, while mine are fine years later. I think a big part of their lifespan is based on how they’re treated.
My kid has laid waste to tons of micro USB cables by just wearing out the springy teeth that hold it in page via his rough plugging/unplugging of his tablet. You can sometimes pry them back up into place but it’s a short teeth fix. Cord brand doesn’t matter much in this case, Anker or otherwise. His newest device is USB-C so at least it doesn’t rely on the teeth to hold it in place and the end seems more robust in general.
Next time get a phone with Qi charging capability. No plugging and unplugging.
That solved some of my problems for sure. Plus my phones have a habit of having their recharging ports go out after a year or two lately, so at least I have a backup method of charging.
Good thought. I probably will.
But until I retire I also need something I can charge while traveling. And carrying a bulky charging pad with me half the days of my life seemed like a losing plan when I bought my last phone.
Coincidentally I’m dealing with a variation on this now. I got hearing aids 5 years ago and then had a choice of replaceable batteries or a bulky proprietary wireless charging station. I chose the replaceable batteries to avoid having to buy a second $400(!) charging station to drag along on trips.
Fast forward to today. I just bought a new gen of hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries are the only option. I’m close enough now to retirement that I’ll try to tough it out without a charger on the road. The good news is the hearing aids’ battery life should be enough for how I use my aids on almost all trips. That same approach would never work for my phone.
OTOOH last week I saw a Qi charging pad for the first time in one of our hotels. It’s coming …
My 2016 Toyota Avalon has one built into the cubby at the front of the console. Worked great until the phones got too large to fit. They do make vehicle phone holders with Qi charging built in. My 2021 F150 has a tray in the console. I replaced their tray with one that had Qi charging capability.
Yes, I believe it is.
Thanks for the help!