Every product eventually reaches the end of its lifespan; Apple’s accessory products are no exception to this rule. At some point, we all have to deal with broken or misplaced products. When it’s time to buy a replacement, it can be difficult to trust the quality and choose from the plethora of companies who are manufacturing products for Apple. Licensing programs such as Apple’s MFi certification are the best way to ensure that the quality of third-party accessory products is as good as the original.

MFi certification launched in 2005 and was originally developed only for iPods. Today, the program encompasses iPhones, iPods, and iPads, and has gained

Certification Process

In order to obtain the certification, manufacturers must design products following Apple’s design guidelines established in the MFi program. Manufacturers must first pay a fee, then, submit their designs and samples to Apple’s independent testing facilities. Once there, the samples are subjected to a multitude of tests to check for compliance in terms of durability, compatibility, safety, and other measures. If the product passes all of these tests, certification is granted and manufacturers are able to sell it with Apple’s stamp of approval.

Does It Even Matter?

A lot has been said regarding the necessity of acquiring MFi certification. However, despite what the naysayers say, MFi certification is undeniably significant for the following 3 reasons:

(1) Safety: MFi-certified products have been tested under demanding conditions to ensure their safety. MFi-certified cables, such as our LK30CL and LK20CL, possess an embedded chip inside the Lightning connector which helps control the amount of current being delivered to the battery. Uncertified cables can cause overheating and/or provide a slow charging experience. In the long run, this may end up damaging your device’s battery or, even worse, render your device completely unusable.

(2) Build Quality: Mechanical stress tests are part of Apple’s rigorous assessments for MFi certification. These tests ensure that products are built with high-grade materials and under high-quality procedures. Uncertified products, for cost efficiency, tend to be fragile and tear easily under normal day-to-day usage. The upfront investment of an MFi-certified product makes up for the frequent need to replace uncertified products. Silicon Power’s LK30CL cable features a 22 AWG (American Wire Gauge) diameter coupled with a braided fishing line design to provide a durable yet flexible construction that can withstand heavy usage, plus precision laser welding, which eliminates vulnerability at the jack and sheath connection point.

(3) Compatibility: Immediate device recognition, fast data transfers, and quick charging speeds are some of the main advantages that a certified cable can provide. Furthermore, Apple has implemented several tactics to discourage the use of uncertified products. For example, plugging in uncertified cables immediately sends a message that the cable is not certified. Also, an update from Apple can obstruct the functionality of uncertified cables, rendering them a useless waste of money. Silicon Power’s LK30CL and LK20CL cables offer guaranteed compatibility with all Apple devices for an optimized user experience.

You Get What You Pay For

When it comes to MFi certification, this saying holds true. Putting your brand new iPhone or iPad at risk by using uncertified products is a bold move. Do yourself and your device a favor by using certified products. Accessories that have been MFi-certified under Apple’s stamp of approval are a better and safer choice. Their performance, build quality, and durability are up to standards with the original.

Silicon Power’s Apple Solutions are all MFi-certified for full charge and sync compatibility with all iPhones, iPads, iPods, and more. Enjoy a seamless charging and data transferring experience with our latest LK30CL and LK20CL cables and never worry again about safety issues thanks to the quality assurance of Apple-certified chips.