Consumer Reports Archives

Revealed: Does paying more for charging cables really pay off?

You leave your phone charging, then wake up — late — because, whoops, it’s dead and the alarm did not go off. That cord gave out on you. That’s the best-case scenario. Worst case: A phone charger starts a fire while you’re sleeping.

Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me and think, “Kim, you’re so dramatic.” It happened to a girl who went to bed with her iPhone next to her. She woke up to flames and was severely burned after the charger caught fire and ignited the blanket. Cheap knock-off accessories were to blame.

We all want a deal, but never at the expense of safety. When it comes to cables, where do you draw the line?

Bad charges make me testy

The fine folks at Consumer Reports dug deep to find the answers. They bought seven charging cables with prices ranging from $4.88 to $29 and conducted some pretty dang rigorous testing.

The Rapid Response team (bet the members brag about that at parties) used a specially adapted motorized rig to simulate real-world conditions. The tests consisted of:

The Bend Test: Repeatedly bending one end of the cable at a 90-degree angle until it fails to power a device.
The Twist Test: Continuously twisting each cable while it powered a device.

I bet you’re like me and wondered, “Are those Amazon chargers and cables any good? They’re so cheap!”

The revealing results

The good news: Every cable they tried withstood the Twist Test. The Bend Test is where things got interesting.

The Apple Lightning cable ($29) survived over 11,500 bends. (That’s when they stopped testing.)
The Amazon Basics USB-C cable ($8.54) held up just as long.
The Bytech USB-C cable and Walmart’s Onn Lightning cable did not fare as well. The Bytech cable (just under $5) failed before reaching 710 bends. The Walmart cable (around $5) stopped working before 796 bends.

The burning question?

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We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

One-click cleanup: This free app deletes your digital history

Asking all the companies you interact with to protect your data sounds like a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole. Who has that kind of time or energy? Thankfully, a new app will do it for ya.

The Permission Slip app was created by Consumer Reports (so you know it’s good!). It contacts companies on your behalf to ensure your personal info isn’t sold to third parties, aka anyone willing to pay for it. They can even get your data erased for you.

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Cool little bags

One of my favorite little pleasures is returning to the car after a long hike, popping open my cooler and grabbing an ice-cold drink — ah-h-h. Recreate that bliss at the beach, on a boat or even at your desk with these little coolers — all chosen for their awesomeness by the folks at Consumer Reports.

Best status-cooler alternative: YETI, Stanley and Hydro Flask coolers make all the best-of lists — and their coolers can cost over $200. The nine-can Titan ($32.99) has features that rival the status coolers (deep-freeze insulation, padded and adjustable shoulder strap, a no-zip flip top) without the name-brand markup.
Best backpack cooler: If you can’t (or don’t want to) wait to get back to your car before popping open a cold one, swap out your regular daypack with this backpack cooler ($29.99). Its waterproof interior can hold up to 28 cans and keep ‘em cold for 16 hours. The outside pockets hold your keys, phone and granola bars.
Best for the golf course: A cooler so genius that it was on “Shark Tank,” the Caddyswag ($25.99) fits six cans of seltzer or soda or whatever and slides perfectly into your golf bag’s external pocket. This will be a slam dunk Father’s Day present for a lot of you, I’m sure.
Best for style: A hip cooler? Yup. They call it retro, but I just call it cool. Igloo’s neon ‘90s cooler (17% off, $24.99) is hot pink, teal and highlighter yellow with a carrying handle and a shoulder strap. Keep nine LaCroix ice cold for enjoying anywhere you want to be refreshed and stylin’.
Best for lunch: PackIt’s freezable lunch bag ($23.99) is both a bag and an ice pack all in one. The bag flattens down to practically nothing so you can store it in even the most packed freezer, then just grab it, pack it and you’re on your way. Cool color options, too.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Check your consumer report: It contains real estate transaction and ownership data; lien, judgment and bankruptcy records; professional license info; and addresses. Go to the LexisNexis Consumer Disclosure Report page and click Request a Consumer Disclosure Report Online. Fill out your name and address, then click Submit Request. The waiting is the hardest part.

Self-checkout AI spies, live streaming murders & opt-out of junk mail

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Plus, who has your data? I chat with Consumer Reports’ Ginny Fahs about Permission Slip, an app that helps you tell companies to stop collecting. The “Godfather of AI” is wary about the future. I’ll explore an AI love-life tool, apps you need to delete, and a trick to unveil mystery callers.

Is that a tablet in your pocket? Consumer Reports (paywall link) ranked phones that go the distance by using a robotic finger to simulate our relentless scrolling. Spoiler: Bigger phones = Better battery life. Top contenders include the Apple iPhone 15 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Nothing Phone 2.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

20% of produce contains unsafe levels of pesticides

For produce in U.S. grocery stores. Takeaways from Consumer Reports’ analysis: Bell peppers, blueberries (even frozen) and potatoes must be organic to be safe. Celery, collard greens and strawberries must be U.S.-grown or organic to be safe. And green beans must be U.S.-grown and organic to be safe. tl;dr: Buy organic when you can.

Is your video doorbell picking up private conversations? Here’s how to tell

Technology has allowed us to move from the traditional two-tone doorbell to something far more complex. A staple of Hollywood sci-fi films, video doorbells first appeared for commercial use around 2013.

The nifty gadgets let you see who is at the front door without getting off the couch, and you can even talk to whoever visits. As with much technology, there is a dark side that most people don’t know about.

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Consumer Reports rates SimpliSafe as the top security system

Here’s some news that should perk the ears of anyone interested in home security. Consumer Reports recently came out with a list of the best DIY home security systems money can buy. Our sponsor, SimpliSafe, topped the chart.

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Amazon Clinic privacy no-go, China's sneaky apps & 3 ways to remove your image from Google

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Plus, paying extra to warm your car seats? I chat with Keith Barry from Consumer Reports about rip-off auto subscriptions. Why the “Godfather of AI” regrets his work, YouTubers take on an unusual sport, remote workers pretending to be busy and how your bank knows that’s you logging in.

Here's what those free credit check sites really cost you (it's not just money)

Many Americans have used free credit reports to see how they are doing financially. It’s not a bad idea to get a grip on your credit. But there is a danger lurking in them too. Tap or click here to see how much your credit card is now worth on the Dark Web.

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Pickup truck recall: Headlights could catch fire in 150K+ vehicles

If you own a pickup truck, it has been a somewhat difficult year. In July, GM recalled 400,000 trucks over exploding airbags. Tap or click here for details on this recall. Ford recalled 2.6 million vehicles in March, which included several Ranger models.

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In the market for a car? The chip shortage is already railroading 2022 models

The pandemic has lasting effects that we will feel for years. The chip shortage is one such issue, causing a scarcity in tech gadgets and other components, many of which are parts of larger machines.

The automotive industry has been hit particularly hard. While it’s easier to get a new car now than last year, used cars are holding their value and will continue to do so for some time. Tap or click here to check out which vehicles are retaining the most value.

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Try this handy calculator that shows how much internet you really need

The pandemic has shown us how reliant we could become on the internet. People have been working and educating themselves remotely. Online retailers saw an increase in sales as essential and non-essential items were in high demand.

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Robot vacuums have a lot of dirt on you. Is yours sharing data?

It’s not uncommon to have your data gathered and shared by smart devices. Part of what makes them “smart” is that they are built to help automate your home or other parts of your life.

But while most of us expect our smart speakers or the apps on our phones to gather data, we may not put much thought into other smart devices we use. After all, how much data can a smart thermostat, robovac or smart plug gather on you? To buy or not to buy: Hot tech products that put your privacy at risk

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How to run a comprehensive background check on yourself

With the relative ease of finding information about anyone via the internet, search engines and social media, sleuthing around is now par for the course. But it goes deeper than that. Every institution that you plan on dealing with wants to glean your history, whether you want it or not.

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