You leave your phone charging, then wake up — late — because, whoops, it’s dead and the alarm did not go off. That cord gave out on you. That’s the best-case scenario. Worst case: A phone charger starts a fire while you’re sleeping.
Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me and think, “Kim, you’re so dramatic.” It happened to a girl who went to bed with her iPhone next to her. She woke up to flames and was severely burned after the charger caught fire and ignited the blanket. Cheap knock-off accessories were to blame.
We all want a deal, but never at the expense of safety. When it comes to cables, where do you draw the line?
The fine folks at Consumer Reports dug deep to find the answers. They bought seven charging cables with prices ranging from $4.88 to $29 and conducted some pretty dang rigorous testing.
The Rapid Response team (bet the members brag about that at parties) used a specially adapted motorized rig to simulate real-world conditions. The tests consisted of:
I bet you’re like me and wondered, “Are those Amazon chargers and cables any good? They’re so cheap!”
The good news: Every cable they tried withstood the Twist Test. The Bend Test is where things got interesting.
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Hollywood has helped create an image that instantly pops into our minds when we hear the term cyberattack. Many of us think of a group of devious hackers led by the likes of Hans Gruber from “Die Hard.” While people like Gruber exist, most cybercriminals are simply common thieves looking to rip people off.
🗑️ They’re trash: Look around. Do you see USB or other charging cables starting to fray? Do yourself a favor and toss them. You’re just asking for trouble — specifically, a fire. Pick up some new ones now.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
In the next USB cable standard. USB4 2.0 offers double the transfer speeds and charging power of the USB4. They’re coming to Japan in December, and we should see them here in the U.S. once Big Tech companies update their gear to be compatible. Bring on the super-duper-fast charging!
Over the last few years, there have been several instances where mobile phone chargers or batteries caused a fire. For example, a girl went to bed last year while her iPhone charged next to her.
Awoken by flames and suffering from burn wounds, she later explained that her charger caught fire and ignited the blanket. While she claims it was an official Apple charger and cable, several investigators blamed cheaper knock-offs and third-party accessories.
You might think, “There’s no bad way to save money.” In reality, there’s a lot you can do wrong — no matter how good your intentions are. Tap or click here for five ways you’re wasting money on tech purchases.
For a columnist and national radio show host focused on technology, you might be surprised how often I’m asked about money.
It makes sense. We spend a ton of money on gadgets, and there’s always something new and shiny. Before you spring for a new phone, give yours this deep clean. You’ll be surprised what a difference it makes.
Amazon has been a source of essentials, hobbies, electronics and supplies during the pandemic, and business has been booming as a result. You can find just about anything on Amazon, which is both good and bad. Need an obscure replacement part for your dishwasher? You can probably find it on Amazon. But not all products are useful, and some can be downright dangerous.
If you’re anything like the rest of us, your whole life revolves around your smartphone. You use it to keep your schedule and stay in touch with friends and check your email. But, what happens when that device stops charging? These simple tricks may be able to help.
