I’m a huge fan of Just Mobile‘s products, and while they’ve always made great aftermarket cables, I feel like their latest — the ZinCable and the AluCable Flat Braided — take their data and charging cable game to a whole new level.
Each sync/charge cable comes with a built-in tie-system.
You can tell, just looking at these Apple MFi-certified cables in their boxes, that the AluCable Flat Braided and the ZinCable are heavier duty than the original Lightning cables that came with your iPhone or iPad. That’s typical for aftermarket cables because let’s face it — the bar isn’t set that high.
Let’s take a look at what makes these cables better than the average aftermarket jobbies that you can find on Amazon or eBay …
Just Mobile ZinCable
The ZinCable is one of the sharpest looking cables I’ve seen. Obviously, looks aren’t everything, so let’s look at what makes it special. The ZinCable measures 5 feet long, and its ends are capped with scratch-, wear-, corrosion-, and crush-resistant zinc alloy. The sculpted ends have grooves molded into them that will feel great on your fingers.
The no-tangle ZinCable has been tested and shown to have a 30,000 bend lifespan; the woven fabric covering the cable has been woven with a special spiral weaving process that effectively “disperses any external pulling force, strengthening the internal wiring, thus extending the lifetime of the cable.”
Have you ever seen what shows when your white OEM Apple cable frays and breaks at the top? There’s just a bit of copper and a cheap white rubber cover. This is what’s inside the Just Mobile ZinCable.
The ZinCable is finished with an attached heavy-duty (yet elegant) rubber cable tie. If Just Mobile starts selling these as a standalone item, I’m going to buy a dozen — it’s that nice.
Just Mobile says that the ZinCable is capable if up to 30% faster charging, and the tip is small enough that it will work with most cases. If you want a heavy-duty cable that can look great while withstanding all of your daily abuse, the ZinCable is for you.
The Just Mobile ZinCable is available in silver or rose gold, and it retails for $24.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Apple MFi-certified; Heavy-duty no-tangle fabric-wrapped cable; 30K bend lifespan; Made for faster charging and syncing; Looks and feels solid
What Needs Improvement: Nothing
•••••
The Just Mobile AluCable Flat Braided
If flashy silver ends aren’t your thing, then you might want to take a look at the Just Mobile AluCable Flat Braided. You might recall that I recently reviewed the AluCable Flat, well — this is that same fab, 4-foot-long, no-tangle cable braided for extra strength and longevity.
The no-tangle AluCable Flat Braided has been tested and shown to have a 20,000 bend lifespan; just like the ZinCable, the woven fabric covering the AluCable Flat Braided has been woven with a special spiral weaving process that effectively “disperses any external pulling force, strengthening the internal wiring, thus extending the lifetime of the cable.”
A flat cable requires a different interior wire setup than a round one; here’s a cross-section of what’s going on inside. Again … much more than the cheap copper interior covered with a white rubber shell those Apple cables have.
The ends of the AluCable Flat Braided are composed of a unibody aluminum connector. On the black cable, the aluminum is black anodized; on the pink cable, the aluminum connector is anodized pink, and on the navy cable it’s silver. The cable is wrapped with an attached velcro cable tie.
Just Mobile says that the AluCable Flat Braided offers 20% faster charging, and it has a smaller connector so that it will work with more cases. The AluCable Flat Braided (I know, I know, it’s a mouthful) looks good, works perfectly, and it is a great addition to your cable stable.
The Just Mobile AluCable Flat Braided is available in silver, black, or rose gold, and it retails for $19.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Apple MFi-certified; Heavy-duty no-tangle fabric-wrapped cable; 20K bend lifespan; Made for faster charging and syncing; Looks and feels solid
What Needs Improvement: Nothing
