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Buy iPhone 5 / 5S / 6 / 6 Plus Lightning Cable Adapter for iHome Speaker

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Most of the hotels I have stayed at lately have an iHome alarm / clock / radio / docking station near the bed.  These were great when you had an iPhone 2G / 3G / 3GS / 4 / 4S since they all used the same 30 pin connector.  Unfortunately, Apple replaced the old 30 pin charging connector with an 8 pin lightning connector on their new iPhone 5 / 5S / 6 / 6 Plus, leaving millions of iHomes behind.  (See how sad the iHome looks without an 8 pin connector?)

Hotel iHome

Back home, I have an old iHome alarm / clock / radio / docking station near my bed.  I did not want to replace the entire iHome just because Apple released a new iPhone, so I found a way to compromise: keep my old iHome and charge my new iPhone…

iHome Standalone

…all I needed was a little white cable.  Ta da!  (Doesn’t my iHome look so much happier with the short white cable sticking out of his head?)

iHome with Cable

The Apple 30 pin to 8 pin lightning cable is only 7 inches long and comes in white.

iPhone Cable Length

It is a very simple concept: plug the big end onto an existing 30 pin connector (iHome, old iPhone charger, car charger, etc.) and plug the new 8 pin connector into a new iPhone.

iPhone Cable Connectors

Before I go any further, I need to point out something really important.  Apple has 2 different 30 pin to 8 pin lightning adapters: a $34.99 cable (link)…

Apple 30 Pin to Lightning Cable

…and a $30.99 adapter (link).  Both items are made and sold by Apple, live up to Apple’s quality standards, and comes with Apple’s premium price.  These cables/adapters will charge your iPhone and can be used to transmit audio and video files from your iPhone through the cable/adapter to whatever device or cable you plug it into.

Apple 30 Pin to Lightning Adapter

The cheap OEM/generic iPhone cable I bought on Ebay (link) for $6.49 (with free shipping by the way) will only charge your device.  Let me repeat that, the cheap cable will only charge your iPhone, it will not transmit audio or video files.  Therefore, you need to ask yourself, do you only want to charge your iPhone with a cheap OEM/generic cable or do you want to pay $30+ and get a cable/adapter that is capable of charging your iPhone and playing your audio/video files?  Choose wisely!

Ebay 30 Pin Lighting Cable

I have used my cheap OEM/generic iPhone cable for almost a year and it works great.  Since I don’t play music from my iPhone, I just needed the charging capabilities.  I am not a fan of the small adapter that goes between the iHome and your iPhone, I much prefer the short cable.  I just bought another cable so I can take it with me when I travel and leave my older cable at home.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.


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25 thoughts on “Buy iPhone 5 / 5S / 6 / 6 Plus Lightning Cable Adapter for iHome Speaker

  1. Pingback: iPhone 5 / 5S / 6 / 6 Plus Lightning Cable Adapter for iHome and Older Accessories | Travel with Grant

  2. Alex

    I had the same exact issue two years ago when i got my 5! Was using the cheapo and getting so pissed off. Eventually forked over a few more bucks for the real one and was glad that it worked perfectly finally …..

    however, for those looking for chargers and cables, they have oem genuine ones (you have to be careful and read descriptions carefully) for very cheap on ebay …. lightning cables for like $6-7, ipad wall chargers for like $9 (retail is $20 + on those ….)

    btw got my iphone 6 plus. massive but amazing

    Reply
    1. Grant

      Going from an iPhone 5S to an iPhone 6 was a big jump, I don’t think I could handle an iPhone 6 Plus. I got a great credit card case for my iPhone :)

      Reply
  3. Ruthy

    Thank you for your very helpful solution as I have 2 devices that have not been able to use and now I can! I had bought 2 different “cheap” chargers as you said! LOL

    Reply
  4. orit

    I got this small (no cord)adaptor for my iPhone 6plus.. I use the ihome to listen to music from my phone (YouTube etc..) but it’s not working:((((
    What am I missing here..?

    Reply
    1. Grant

      If your iHome is a few years old, it may not work with newer iPhone/iPads. Instead of using the lightning adapter, you may have to get an auxiliary adapter and play it from the headphone jack.

      Reply
  5. Shelly

    2 years after your original post and you’re still helping people! Thanks, Grant. You saved my iHome.

    Reply
      1. Jeep

        Hi,
        In Franchise bought 30 pin adapter from local store for my 6s and old iHome box in French house. Adapter doesn’t fit on iHome. Adapter is more like a male. Your pictures show opening in adapter. I going to return and see about getting one like yours that fits over iHome pin. What do you think?
        Jeep

        Reply

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