Usually, we never even review cables at all. They should all work the same, shouldn’t they? Actually, no – there are some significant differences between USB cables in terms of quality, and functionality. That however is for another time – as this will solely be focused on the iCable Asia i10 USB cable, which I have been using for quite some time.
When was the last time a USB cable broke down on its own for no freaking reason? It just happened to me not too long ago by the way – and that’s where I want to start the premise of this review. I have a picture to show you all, and it really summarizes why we all need high quality cables.
The main difference here is obviously the build quality itself. Any cheapo USB cables or even an original Apple Lightning cable, they’re made pretty cheaply. There are some methods to fix this – like how we used heatshrinks to strengthen your cable as a temporary solution. Please don’t see this as an offense – but has your USB cable frayed or damaged yet?
Even though my cables are pretty neatly kept, the ends still fray. One of the most notorious cable for fraying is the Apple’s Lightning cable. Seriously a quick Google search and the results are in crazy amount! There are ways to prevent it from fraying with common household items, like a pen spring to coil around the cable, and there are some other accessories for the Lightning cable too.
Seriously, have you looked at how ridiculous the accessories are? They’re not cheap either, yet it just adds bulk back to an already-fragile cable. Let’s not forget that this piece of accessory might bite into the cable if it’s too tight, or fall off if it’s too loose. Bummer.
Anyway, we should go on with the iCable Asia i10 USB cable review already.
The packaging is simple, but durable yet shows off any of the crucial information that it needs to convey. The one I got here is iCable Asia i10 micro USB cable. Only the black colour version is available for micro USB cable though.
Right at the front, it’s stated that this cable is 6 feet in length, or about 180cm. Plenty long, if you ask me. That said, the cable is metal-tipped (more on this later) and has a nylon-braided cable running throughout its entire length. Pretty neat.
The cable is nicely sheathed in the slot, and the matte reflection on the metal tips are nicely shown. So far so good. Also, there’s a little hook at the top of the box – just in case you want to show it off somewhere.
Build quality
The entire length of the cable is neatly wrapped and tied together at the back of the packaging, which I found solace in unraveling it. The cable itself is very rigid, in a way that it can stand on its own – like a snake, actually.
I’m really loving the cable’s stiffness. This strength in provides even more rigidity on the cable to prevent damage. For some reason, I laughed real hard while trying to straighten a stiff 6 ft cable – it’s like straightening a thin wire coat hanger.
Now, what iCable Asia is claiming, is that the i10 cables are strong enough to pull a car. Essentially, it can be the rope of a pulley system – which does instill a great sense of confidence in the product’s reliability.
But that’s only the cable itself – what about the connectors at both ends? Fear not – as iCable Asia also claims that it has steel encased connectors – so you won’t have to worry about the cables fraying ever again. They also tout a few other features of the cable, like the 4 colour choices for Apple’s Lightning cables, and MFI certification.
I’m pretty happy with the iCable Asia i10 actually, as the cable is seemingly indestructible. How does it fare in day-to-day use though?
Using the iCable Asia i10
First of all, I have to address the one and only thing I can nitpick about – the weight. This cable has some weight to it, because of its superior build quality and length. Its 180cm length might be a little too much for some, but I find it just nice – since I do use a 200cm cable anyway.
Bringing the cable out does feel funny. Since I do like to coil up my wire in an oblong shape around my fingers before stuffing it into my pocket, I find it pretty surreal to pull the cable out from my pocket, and the iCable maintained its form. I have to straighten it myself!
Also because of it’s rigid, coiled iCable won’t get tangled in my pockets as easily as other cables too. That’s a really welcomed side effect.
Plugging the cable in is fine – and it works even with a thicker TPU case, just as expected, Then I continued using the cable and charged my phone – and I was surprised. Being a 180cm cable, it does support fast charging!
This is confirmed by using a simple USB voltmeter thing and compared it with another cable which I can confirm is compatible with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge. To my surprise, both of them brings in about 7.50V at 1.67A constantly – which results in about 12.525W. Now, these numbers don’t tell the entire story, the USB voltmeter does consume some energy, which explains the big gap from the charger’s rated 9V at 2A output.
Throughout my test, I can confirm that the iCable Asia i10 is compatible with Quick Charging beyond 5V 2A ratings.
Wrap up
Tough and durable. 180cm USB cable. Fast charging. I think this is the only USB cable I ever need – until USB Type-C variants of the iCable Asia i10 arrives that is.
The last thing I want to talk about is the price. That might be the only thing holding you back – but let me list out some of the advantages of getting an iCable Asia i10 USB cable for you.
- It’s long
- Very durable
- Backed with a lifetime warranty
- Comes in 4 different colours (Lightning cable only)
- Has some anti-tangle properties
- Get 5% discount over at Lazada with purchases made with UOB
For more information, do visit http://www.icable.asia/ for further information. They do offer some other products as well, such as power banks, wireless charging power banks, and a shorter utilitarian USB cable.
Personally speaking, I’m loving the iCable that I have right here.
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