Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 12 Pro Max I plug and unplug my iPhone multiple times a day, should I worry about damaging the port?
- Thread starter jordysak
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Nothing to worry about, apple state that your lighting port can be used a 1000 times before it wears out.
That’s actually scary. 1000 times would mean 2.7 years if charged once a day , that’s if plugged once a day.
If I plug 4 times a day, 2.7/4 is 0.69 years which means that I should expect my port to wear out in less than a year? 😂
I would say that 1000 uses is an under estimate. I've owned iPhones for years, then passed them on to family members who use them for years, and have never had a port fail.
The bottom line is, your phone, including the port, is meant to be used. Just use it and don't worry it. I get that iPhones are expensive, but it's weird how much some people worry about babying them. You probably don't worry that, for example, your car's steering wheel will wear out because you make too many turns.
The bottom line is, your phone, including the port, is meant to be used. Just use it and don't worry it. I get that iPhones are expensive, but it's weird how much some people worry about babying them. You probably don't worry that, for example, your car's steering wheel will wear out because you make too many turns.
Where does Apple state that number?
I believe it'll be more like 10.000 or 15.000 times!
I would be cautious. Both my last two iPhones had the port break over time. If I had no wireless headphones and wireless charger by now this would be going to service again.
And while it’s technically probably possible to swap just the port Apple will charge you their usual substantial fee.
And while it’s technically probably possible to swap just the port Apple will charge you their usual substantial fee.
If it makes sense at any time you could consider plugging a lightning extension cord into the iPhone and do the frequent plugging/unplugging on the other end of that.
Lightning Extension Cable 3.3ft Female to Male 8 Pin iPhone 5/6/7/8 Plus Extender Cord
Lightning Extension Cable 3.3ft Female to Male 8 Pin iPhone
www.amazon.com
Why not a Qi charger? I hardly ever plug my iPhone into anything unless you are referring to a car charger and you can get Qi for them too. I use Bluetooth for just about everything else except syncing to my MBP.
This really, if you are fussing about damaging the port on your phone there are options out there to either not use the port at all or you can get these where the bit in the port stays in the whole time and the cable attaches magnetically to it.
Magnetic Charging Cable 2Pack 6ft Phone Charger Cord and 4Pack Magnet Lightning Adapter for Apple IPhone14/13/12/11/Xs/Max/XR/X/8/8 Plus/7/6/6s/SE/5c/5s/5 iPad Air 2/Mini
Magnetic Charging Cable 2Pack 6ft Phone Charger Cord and 4Pack Magnet Lightning Adapter for Apple IPhone14/13/12/11/Xs/Max/XR/X/8/8 Plus/7/6/6s/SE/5c/5s/5 iPad Air 2/Mini
www.amazon.com
For what its worth I kept my both my iPhone 5 and 6s for 3 years, possibly just over and the only issue i had with the ports was because of pocket fluff etc getting compacted in there and an occasional clean out sorted the issues. In fact the battery on my 6S was so bad towards the end it was on and off a charger of some sort all day and always charged...it was just that the battery wasnt holding much!!
I understand your point and I agree with you, but it’s so hard to not worry about it when I plug in my iPhone 4x the amount I should be doing
I wouldn’t want to damage the port, the iPhone is about a month old
Thank you for your kind suggestionIf it makes sense at any time you could consider plugging a lightning extension cord into the iPhone and do the frequent plugging/unplugging on the other end of that.
Lightning Extension Cable 3.3ft Female to Male 8 Pin iPhone 5/6/7/8 Plus Extender Cord
Lightning Extension Cable 3.3ft Female to Male 8 Pin iPhonewww.amazon.com
But based on your previous experience with iPhones , how many times a day would you charge and how many years did you use the iPhone?
I would look into wireless charging but only recently I found out that the official MagSafe charger requires an external wall adapter to charger too
Absolutely.
The Lightning port only has a finite number of plug insertions it's capable of before it wears out. I have a 5 year old iPhone 6+ I've used every day and top off at least 3 times a day (every day for 5 years) and its lightning port is busted. It busted over a year ago. There's spring tabs on each side of the port that hold the plug in place. Eventually one or two of them will wear out or break and the port will no longer hold the plug- it'll be loose and the plug can't make a secure connection - and won't charge.
The only way I can charge this phone now is to wrap a rubber band around the cord plug when it's plugged in, then up and over the phone and back down to a corner to strap it in place with tension.
On average I plugged in my phone 3 times a day for 5 years, that's 5500 insertions. The port broke after 4 years, so it was only good for approximately 4400 insertions before it went belly up.
It's a balancing act between charging your phone frequently throughout the day to minimize depth of discharge to prolong battery life span VS charge plug insertions. It does little good to have an original battery still in good health after 4 years but to have a busted charge port to show for it.
Replacing a battery costs $49-$79.
Replacing a charge port costs $349
Really hard to say, I guess back then I used the port 5-10 times a day. Different chargers at different locations and different headphones and car adapters too.
I still use a iPhone 6S+ since it was new in 2015. I have probably plugged in a lightning cable once a day since. Zero issues related to the lightning port on the phone. Can’t say the same fir the lightning cables though, gone through plenty of them.
It works with any USB-C outlet. The only issue is that it loads <15W. Which on the other side is better for the battery
regarding the port i never damaged a port in 12 years. Of course with different phones.
The 1000 time number above is not from apple. I guess he thought of charging cycles
Pretty sure I read it somewhere once, unless I left out a 0 by accident . 🤦♂️🧐😂
Do you have a source for that? Seems really low! Anyway, if 1000 was the limit my 8 is exceeding expectations! Carplay is what is really running up the count for me, I might make 5-10 stops a day for work each one requiring a plug in. I understand it will die eventually but I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Edit: Sorry, missed your response in post 19
Last edited:
Used my iPhone 6 for six years, plugging in for average 2 times a day. No problems.
The lightning cable head eventually cracked on the fifth year (although still working), but the port is still good.
Even my very old iPad 3 port (non lightning) is still working, while my Galaxy Nexus micro USB port had to be serviced on the fifth year.
So Any port is durable enough depends on your usage habit I think.
Just make sure it lines up perfectly before pushing it in.
The lightning cable head eventually cracked on the fifth year (although still working), but the port is still good.
Even my very old iPad 3 port (non lightning) is still working, while my Galaxy Nexus micro USB port had to be serviced on the fifth year.
So Any port is durable enough depends on your usage habit I think.
Just make sure it lines up perfectly before pushing it in.
Make sure to pull straight out in one motion and you should be fine. Don't try and wiggle it loose or remove at an angle.