If you’ve ever shopped for a new Lightning cable or gamepad, you’ve probably noticed many are MFi Certified. You may have also seen that certified products cost a bit more. Here’s what MFi certification means—and why you’ll want it.
MFi Certification Is the “Apple Tax”
Sure, many iPhone, iPad, and Mac accessories are pricey. Whatever the reason, you shouldn’t buy ultra-cheap uncertified cables and accessories for your Apple devices because, in the end, they might cost you more than the overpriced alternatives.
Why? Well, because they aren’t MFi-Certified, of course!
MFi (Made for iPod) certification began way back in 2005 as a way to ensure that iPods (with their bulky, 30-pin connectors) would work with all accessories and chargers. Remember, there was a time when everything from alarm clocks to cars had built-in, 30-pin connectors. To gain MFi certification and advertise products for the iPod, manufacturers had to run products through Apple compliance tests. These tests checked for safety (overheating), durability, accessory compatibility, and headphone jack controls. Manufacturers also had to pay royalties to Apple, in case you’re wondering.
The MFi certification process is virtually the same today. Manufacturers run their iPad and iPhone accessories (Lightning cables, gamepads, Bluetooth controllers, and so on) through compliance and safety tests, pay Apple some royalties, and gain a “Made for iPhone” badge on their product packaging. In the end, people get reliable products, manufacturers get to wave around MFi licenses, and Apple gets some extra cash. Each Lightning connector on an MFI-certified cable or other device has a tiny authentication chip, so your device knows it’s an MFi-certified accessory.
Why Are Uncertified Apple Accessories So Bad?
Let’s get something out of the way: not all uncertified Apple accessories are necessarily bad. If you have an uncertified gamepad or a pair of headphones that work like a dream, that’s great! But, generally speaking, uncertified Apple accessories—especially charging cables—are trash.
A quick look at Apple’s counterfeit guide is all you need to understand this. Apple accessories, like Lightning cables, are set to ultra-specific standards. They’re made at consistent sizes with consistent Made for Ipodcomponents, with smooth, perfectly spaced contacts. Unlike USB cables, all Lightning cables need to be identical.
When Lightning cables don’t fit these criteria, they may conduct electricity incorrectly or accumulate heat. They may wiggle inside an iPhone or iPad’s charging port. If you’re lucky, they’ll break or overheat before your Apple device does.
As for other accessories, like wireless gamepads and headphones, the name of the game is simply compatibility. You should expect these accessories to work correctly in any situation. If there’s a skip track button, it should work correctly. If you jump from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone 10, your accessory should still work.
Oh No! My New iPhone Case Isn’t MFi-Certified!
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Source : What Does Apple MFi-Certified Mean?
