Genuine cable vs unbranded

CookieMonster.x

Hi everyone. I need to buy a new micro usb cable for my charger (for Samsung S4 mini). I was going to buy one off ebay (here), it's very cheap at around €1.40, and over 1000 have been sold. I'm just wondering if it would be better to buy a different one? I bought one in Tesco for around €10 I think but it charges slowly, disconnects, and doesn't connect to a laptop.
The other two I saw are from Carphone Warehouse, this, which is genuine Samsung and reduced to €12.99, and this, which is Sony and reduced to €9.99.
Is there much of a difference?
Sorry this is a bit long winded, thanks for any advice!

Just noticed the Samsung one is not available.. would a cheap one be good enough?

CantGetNoSleep

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

Hi everyone. I need to buy a new micro usb cable for my charger (for Samsung S4 mini). I was going to buy one off ebay (here), it's very cheap at around €1.40, and over 1000 have been sold. I'm just wondering if it would be better to buy a different one? I bought one in Tesco for around €10 I think but it charges slowly, disconnects, and doesn't connect to a laptop.
The other two I saw are from Carphone Warehouse, this, which is genuine Samsung and reduced to €12.99, and this, which is Sony and reduced to €9.99.
Is there much of a difference?
Sorry this is a bit long winded, thanks for any advice!

Id go for the branded one but the Sony should do the job

allthedoyles

dont know , but have had problems charging Samsung with some of our usb chargers .
Our samsungs only charge with samsung chargers.

This surprised me as the USB end is the same and the other end looks the same too .

shedweller

I've had difficulties with spurious cables. What could be in the branded ones?

CantGetNoSleep

One of the issues has can be with the current (amps) of your charger. Typically chargers were 1A or less, while new larger smartphones and tablets are often 2A. While the cable will not have an amp rating, some of the cables can carry 1A easily but will not carry the full 2A to charge quickly enough.

irishpancake

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

One of the issues has can be with the current (amps) of your charger. Typically chargers were 1A or less, while new larger smartphones and tablets are often 2A. While the cable will not have an amp rating, some of the cables can carry 1A easily but will not carry the full 2A to charge quickly enough.

Such BS, honestly....

The device will draw the current it needs from the connected supply....which is what the USB coed does, connects.

A charger rated higher than that recommended for any device, I'm talking mobile/cell phones here, say a 2A charger, will still only charge at the rated value for the device.

You can safely connect any charger, but those rated at 1A used on a 2A rated device, will take longer to charge, and a USB port, rated st 0.5A will take longer again.

They are all 5V, which is the important thing.

Those cheap USB cords from eBay will be OK, as long as the pin out conforms to the USB Standards, it should have a certified USB logo.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB

They are dumb things, cords, connectors, just wires.....!

and there is no way they contribute to slow charging, etc

If they do, it's a faulty cord, or bad connector at either end, device USB, or the supply, charger or laptop USB port, which you can check by use of a voltmeter, using the appropriate pin out, for continuity and voltages.

AndersLimpar

CookieMonster.x wrote: »

Hi everyone. I need to buy a new micro usb cable for my charger (for Samsung S4 mini). I was going to buy one off ebay (here), it's very cheap at around €1.40, and over 1000 have been sold.

Generally the difference is that they have used thinner gauge wire in the manufacture of the cables which means if they are moved around a bit they will usually fail much quicker than a more expensive cable. Not always. And it might even arrive broken already!

Buy three of them for €1.40 - you still save yourself money, you have three of them for use in the car, house and work plus the chances of all three being broken are very slim and if one does fail then you automatically have a spare

CantGetNoSleep

irishpancake wrote: »

Such BS, honestly....

The device will draw the current it needs from the connected supply....which is what the USB coed does, connects.

A charger rated higher than that recommended for any device, I'm talking mobile/cell phones here, say a 2A charger, will still only charge at the rated value for the device.

You can safely connect any charger, but those rated at 1A used on a 2A rated device, will take longer to charge, and a USB port, rated st 0.5A will take longer again.

They are all 5V, which is the important thing.

Those cheap USB cords from eBay will be OK, as long as the pin out conforms to the USB Standards, it should have a certified USB logo.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB

They are dumb things, cords, connectors, just wires.....!

and there is no way they contribute to slow charging, etc

If they do, it's a faulty cord, or bad connector at either end, device USB, or the supply, charger or laptop USB port, which you can check by use of a voltmeter, using the appropriate pin out, for continuity and voltages.

So you think there is no difference between the charging speed of any USB cable you use?

CantGetNoSleep

OP - have a read of this article - http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-micro-usb-cable/ - it explains that the cheaper cables have thinner wires which cannot handle the current.

Some of the cables mentioned are also available on Amazon UK - I personally use the Anker ones.

irishpancake

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

So you think there is no difference between the charging speed of any USB cable you use?

If you mean, the charging time, generally that's true.

The device being charged determines the requirement.

If you connect a charging source which can supply that requirement, you get a fast charge.

If you connected a lower rated charging source, you get a slower charge.

This is why charging from USB ports is slowest, as they are restricted to delivering 0.5V [this restriction too can be overcome]. to a connected load, such as a smartphone, which typically requires 1/1.7A.

Hence the slow rate of charge, which, BTW, is generally considered to be better, safer and more effctive in the long term battery life.

The resistive effect of a typical 1m USB cable is relatively negligible, even if the guage is not full spec.

This has been my experience with many Androids, Tablets and phones using sh11ty cables provided with most China devices, which all my recent devices have been.

It is barely noticeable charging time difference when using my Nexus ir Samsing provided USB cable, and cables delivered with many cheapo Chinese devices.

I use them interchangeably with no perceptible difference.

I accept that if you go longer, or add extensions, with higher AWG, thinner wires, you if course will see an effect.

But for a phone charging cable, typically 1m. I would give those cheaper cables a go.

This App may give an indication of cable/charger combinations:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gombosdev.ampereiamperei

FAQ:

http://ampereapp.blogspot.hu/2015/05/ampere-faq.html

sean_b97

doubt theres too much difference