Last week, Anker debuted a special edition 24K gold-plated USB-C to Lightning cable priced at $100, marking an unusual departure for the popular accessory company known for producing high-quality products at reasonable prices.
Although the cable is really just the company’s Powerline+ III cable with gold plating, Anker offered to send me one over so I decided to check it out.
Unboxing
The cable is packaged in a clamshell cardboard box with a black and gold sleeve covered with product details and images. When the box is removed from the sleeve, you will find some raised gold text with the Ankara logo and tagline.
The box is held closed magnetically, but it doesn’t require much force to open, where you’re greeted with two gold connectors and a bit of wiring prominently displayed on a custom box insert. The rest of the wire is hidden away, coiled inside the insert.
The top of the box has some “You’re now a part of charging royalties” writing so you can feel like it was worth spending $100 on a Lightning cable, and a pull tab lets you lift the panel to reveal a leather-like storage pouch for the cable.
All in all, it’s a relatively premium unboxing experience, especially for something as straightforward as a cable, and it’s clear that Anker expects many of these to be given as gifts.
cable
I’ve used Anker’s regular PowerLine+ III cables, and they’re very high quality with good reinforcement at the base of each connector and a braided cable for a premium feel and durability. The regular version comes in three- and six-foot lengths, while the 24K gold version is only available in six-foot lengths. I generally prefer longer cables anyway, as they give great flexibility to extend a bit further from the outlet than the standard cables included with Apple’s devices.
The new Powerline+ III’s cable is 30 percent thinner than the previous Powerline+ II, but it’s also more durable. Anker says the braided cables are rated to withstand 35,000 bends and come with a lifetime warranty against quality issues.
The connectors are made from scratch-resistant stainless steel and the cables support high-speed charging over Lightning with at least an 18-watt power adapter.
So what differentiates the new 24K gold cable from the regular version except for the $100 price tag instead of $35? Well, it’s mostly about looks. The gold plating on the connectors and the black-gold braiding on the cable definitely stand out, so you’ll definitely be able to pick it out from the crowd.
The included cable tie is plastic-backed Velcro for the regular PowerLine+ III cable, but the 24K Gold version uses a leather strap with a gold pin to fit the luxury theme. A leather effect pouch with a gold snap closure continues that theme, offering a place to store your cable when not in use and protecting it from damage.
When it comes to functionality, there is no difference compared to the regular version, which is already a premium USB-C to Lightning cable. I’ve obviously only had the cable for a few days, but so far I haven’t experienced any problems with it.
Braided cables tend to be a little stiffer than traditional ones and often don’t coil quite as smoothly, but if you’ve used other braided cables, you’ve probably already seen this.
Anker’s Powerline cable connectors are significantly larger than Apple’s cables. This makes it easier to grab the connectors, but it can potentially cause problems in some cases, for example, there isn’t enough clearance around the Lightning port. It’s not something I’ve run into with this or other Powerline cables, but I’ve sometimes seen it in the past with certain combinations of iPad cases and other third-party cables.
wrap up
Do you need Anker’s 24K gold-plated USB-C to Lightning cable? Of course not, and Anker doesn’t expect to sell a ton of them. But it’s a fun way for the company to take an existing product to the next level, and there will no doubt be some users willing to drop a Benjamin for something a little more unique, either for themselves or as a gift.
If you’re interested in checking out Anker’s gold-plated Lightning cable, it’s available on Amazon for $99.99.
Note: Anker provided MacRumors with a special edition gold-plated Lightning cable for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
