An ultra-strong cable for heavy-duty use.
In my opinion, you can never have too many heavy-duty cables. I remember my collection started with simple cables that were included with devices — like Apple’s Lightning cable — and they worked for a decent amount of time. Since those cables were included with the purchase of the product, I didn’t think anything about looking at third-party cables because that was an ‘extra expense’. I can say now with absolute certainty that third-party cables are worth the investment. One such cable is the Zendure SuperCord Lightning cable.
DETAILS
The Zendure USB cable was developed due to overwhelming demand from fans. So the SuperCord was born. It’s an ultra-strong, durable USB cable. It’s available as a USB-A to Lightning, USB-A to USB-C, USB-C to USB-C, or USB-A to Micro USB and Lightning 2-in-1 cable combination. The cable is designed with superior strain relief and is reinforced with a stainless steel connector. The cable features Kevlar and nylon braiding on the outside as well as a Kevlar fiber core. It is bend-tested more than 50,000 times. The SuperCord is tied together with an integrated leather strap and is compatible with high-speed charging. Zendure backs their product with a Lifetime Warranty.
SPECS
- 400D Kevlar fibers reinforce the inner wiring for added strength
- 1050D individual Kevlar strands add durability and protection
- Ultra-rugged Kevlar and Nylon braiding provides 5X flexibility and durability
- Kevlar-reinforced conductors offer 4X durability and strength
- Drain wiring all-around protection
- Insulated conductors reduce friction and improve flexibility
- RF shield-braid for fast charging
USER EXPERIENCE
The Zendure Lightning cable came wrapped up with a nice leather strap. The cable I was provided is extra long, which is a big benefit to me. I used it to charge my iPhone and iPad several times and never perceived any issues with it. The connection between my device and its power source were perfect. This cable can be used for both charging and syncing so I synced an iPhone Xs max to a 15-inch MacBook Pro (2018). There was only about 10GB of data stored on the phone. The back-up to iTunes took less than 5 minutes. I didn’t notice any heat collection on the cable ends at all, which is always reassuring.
The Zendure cable wraps up quite easily. The corded covering keeps it from becoming tangled and the leather strap that is included ensures that you always have a way to secure the excess cable. While I didn’t do any specific endurance/strength testing of the cable, I did examine it very closely. The main body of the cable is flexible but definitely feels more sturdy than standard USB cables. The cable holds its shape for a short time. I wrapped several inches of the cable around my finger and a curly coil held its shape for more than a minute. That said, as soon as I straightened it out, the cable did not have any kinks in it.
One of the places I always see cables fail is near the ends. So, I paid particular attention to that area of the Zendure cable. The actual plugs are reinforced with a heavy-duty plastic. I didn’t notice any potential issue with fraying of the cable but did see where the nylon cord would pull away from the interior cable tubing. This in itself isn’t a problem but since it exposes the cable tubing, that could potentially lead to damage to the interior cable.
CONCLUSION
All in all, this USB/Lightning cable is a nice investment. I’ve worked with many different third-party cable manufacturers and some offer extra long reinforced cables for more than $30. The Zendure USB cable is slated to retail for $20 ($10 as a Kickstarter incentive). I can recommend this cable because it will hold up much better than a standard USB cable will, and let’s be honest who doesn’t want a charging cable that can double as a car towing chain?
For more information, visit zendure.com.
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