What is Apple MFI Certification?

David inspects the line at one of our manufacturing partners.

The Lightning Connector

The Lightning connector that iPhones, iPods and iPads have been using since 2012 is a proprietary connector created by Apple. Inside each lightning connector is a tiny authentication chip that tells your device it’s Apple MFI Certified. This is important because non-certified, or knock-off, lightning cables can be very dangerous to your device. (You may have noticed a warning message on your phone when a non-MFI cable was detected.) These cables can often times get extremely hot, cause damage to your phone, and even render it completely fried and useless. Every Paracable lightning cable is an MFI Certified Lightning Cable.

Genuine MFI lightning and 30 pin connectors. Each one engraved with a unique serial number assigned to Paracable.

Non MFI cable on the left with warning message. Genuine MFI Paracable on the right.

The Certification Process

In 2012, with the production of our new line of lightning cables, Paracable set out to become a certified Apple MFI Developer. The process is complex and long, but we knew it would allow us to produce high-quality, MFI-certified lightning cables. Before we could go into production, we submitted our product plan, designs and packaging to Apple for approval. Once they approved everything we were ready to begin production.

Injection molding to protect and strengthen the internal connections.

Testing & Approval

As part of the approval process, you must submit samples of your cables to Apple's independent testing facility to undergo rigorous mechanical, stress, and electrical tests. Beyond this, every single cable we make is tested twice during production with advanced electrical testing equipment to ensure that there are no defects and that every cable is up to the Paracable and Apple MFI quality standards. Apple also routinely audits MFI Manufacturing facilities.

Testing each cable for valid electrical signal.

The Final Product

This may seem like a lot of work just to put a small, white “Made for (Apple product)” logo on your packaging. But it’s absolutely worth it. That MFI badge symbolizes almost two years of hard work going back and forth between Apple, Apple's suppliers, and our own manufacturers to get our product just the way we imagined it. We take a great deal of pride in providing the best lightning cables in the world and we want our customers to be extremely happy with their purchase. That's why we're confident in providing a 1-year warranty and a 30-day "love it" guarantee.