Both Amazon and Monoprice have begun offering MFi certified Lightning-to-USB cables at a significantly lower cost than Apple’s own $19.99 Lightning cable. Amazon has priced their single 3-ft. offering at $14.99, while Monoprice has set their 3 ft. cable price at $11.77.
Monoprice is known for offering high quality generic cables at a deep discount. In addition to the standard 3ft cable, Monoprice is also selling a 6ft cable for $12.56 and a Slimfit cable for $12.73. The cables are all MFi certified Lightning to USB charge/sync cables, made to work with the iPad, iPhone, and iPod. The Slimfit cable from Monoprice is set to ship out in the beginning of March, with the other two cables following later in the month.
Currently, Amazon is only offering a 3ft MFi Certified cable, but with immediate availability.
True, there are cheaper Lightning cables available, but the Amazon and Monoprice offerings are MFi (Made for iPad/iPhone/iPod) Certified, meaning they have been approved by Apple. The other lower priced cables are unofficial, which raises concerns about quality and compatibility.
Apple has strict control over the licensing of the Lightning connector and any accessories using the connector. They insist that all Lightning-related accessories be manufactured in Apple-approved facilities.
