Mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lives, whether for work, entertainment, or staying connected. Our phones are almost always by our side. In this "digital age", our phone batteries bear a heavy workload. The charging cables many people use daily might be quietly undermining the health of the battery, even directly impacting the lifespan of the phone. The seemingly cheap third-party charging cables could be a hidden time bomb, and the damage they cause to the battery could cost you dearly.

The charging cable is one of the most frequently handled electronic accessories in our daily lives. It plays a crucial, yet often unnoticed, role: delivering electricity to our phones to ensure the devices stay powered. But have you ever realised that this seemingly ordinary cable carries more responsibility than you might imagine? The charging cable is not just a "conduit for electricity"; it also involves battery protection, charging efficiency, and even the overall safety of the phone. If you choose a poor-quality charging cable, it might cause overheating, short circuits, and other issues, ultimately leading to irreversible damage to the battery. In some cases, the damage could be severe enough to halve the lifespan of your phone battery. It’s like choosing the wrong pair of running shoes; while you might not notice any problems during your run, over time, your feet start to feel subtle pain, and eventually, they may not be able to handle the strain.

The harm caused by a cheap charging cable is often subtle and gradual. It’s like picking a car that looks stunning on the outside but has poor build quality. At first, you might not notice any issues, but once you hit the highway, the car suddenly breaks down, and you realise the seriousness of the problem. Similarly, low-quality charging cables might cause multiple hidden damages to your phone’s battery. You might not know that cheap charging cables mainly harm the battery by causing overheating and lacking protection. When the cable is of poor quality, it can lead to unstable current flow and excessive temperature during charging. It’s like exercising in a high-temperature environment—your muscles get overly fatigued and damaged, and the phone battery becomes unstable due to high temperatures, ultimately shortening its lifespan. This kind of damage is gradual, and at first, you might not feel any noticeable discomfort, but over time, the battery’s health will deteriorate sharply, and you may eventually need to replace the battery.

Battery charging is like a high-speed train. The design of a high-speed train is to get to the destination as quickly as possible, and the charging cable acts as the railway track. For your phone, a substandard charging cable often cannot support fast charging, resulting in slow charging speeds and long waiting times, reducing efficiency. This slow charging experience is like being slowed down when you’re trying to keep up with time. Poor connection or difficult plugging and unplugging can lead to excessive wear on the phone’s charging port. It’s like wearing a pair of ill-fitting shoes repeatedly—the sole and upper of the shoes wear down, causing discomfort. Similarly, your phone’s charging port can become loose or damaged from continuous mechanical wear, and at that point, your charging port becomes an "invisible killer".

When purchasing a charging cable, it’s important to understand the cable’s certification standards. Charging cables and adapters are not just tools to connect devices; their quality directly impacts the safety and performance of the devices. Choosing the right charging cable is like choosing a high-quality pair of running shoes. Although the price may be slightly higher, it can effectively prevent damage caused by pushing yourself too hard. Choose original or certified brands: The safest choice is to purchase the original charging cable for your phone or opt for cables certified by MFi (Made for iPhone) or USB-IF certification.

In summary, selecting the right charging cable is very important. Don't let a cheap charging cable become your phone’s "invisible killer". So, next time you're buying a charging cable, don’t be tempted by a low price. Be cautious of those low-quality cables.

（Writer：Matti）