Belkin Announces First Official Third-Party Lightning Accessories

Monday November 5, 2012 7:22 am PST by Eric Slivka

While a number of vendors have been launching unofficial Lightning accessories while Apple works to bring official partners up to speed on the new standard, Belkin today became the first official vendor to introduce accessories using the Lightning connector.

“Belkin was the first third-party manufacturer to develop accessories for the 30-pin connector back in 2003, and we are thrilled to be first to market again with solutions for the new Lightning connector,” said Martin Avila, general manager of Belkin’s core division. “People are eager for Lightning accessories and Belkin’s give them a reliable way to keep their new iPhone 5, iPad 4th generation, iPad mini or iPod touch charged, protected, and ready to go.”

Belkin's first two products include a car charger and a Charge + Sync Dock, each priced at $29.99. Belkin is currently accepting pre-orders for the new accessories, which will begin shipping by November 15.

The car charger is the only one of the two products to actually include a Lightning connector from Belkin, as the dock simply accommodates the standard Lightning to USB cable offered by Apple.

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

DB2k

7 months ago

how is the dock a "lightening accessory" its a lump of metal with a hole. You have to provide your own Lightening to USB cable to make it work.

that is a gip.

Rating: 17 Positives

iGrip

7 months ago

$30 for a car charger?

That is insane.

Rating: 12 Positives

croooow

7 months ago

Great to see a 3rd party Lightning cord but I will just stick with my USB car charger adapter.

I purchased an extra USB/Lightning cord from Apple but I would also like to be able to charge other devices.

Rating: 11 Positives

croooow

7 months ago

It's the tone of your text

Let's all relax and be supportive of google not this disparaging attitude.

I would guess that JHankwitz was relaxed when he made a comment directed at iGrip. It seemed to be a valid comment which you took personally and then asked for a moderator to take care of.

You need to relax and understand that not all comments on Internet sites are going to be 100% cheerful and positive. JHankwitz could have been a lot more negative with his comment if he wanted to attack iGrip (again, not even directed at you)

This comes from the person calling someone a "prick" (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=16178751#post16178751)? What was the tone of that text? Would he appreciate the attitude?

Rating: 7 Positives

JHankwitz

7 months ago

Maybe I will.

Look I don't appreciate the attitude

Mods?

Who has an attitude here?

Rating: 6 Positives

nuckinfutz

7 months ago

Would prefer not to have an integrated lightning cable in the car charger. I won't buy another that isn't plain ole USB.

The Dock is half-baked. Nice but if you got to run your own cable you may as well make your own dock.

Rating: 6 Positives

Want300

7 months ago

Great to see a 3rd party Lightning cord but I will just stick with my USB car charger adapter.

I purchased an extra USB/Lightning cord from Apple but I would also like to be able to charge other devices.

Yea I did the same, but since I still would like to charge my iPad and iPhone 4S (work phone)... and so my GF can charge her phone as well. I bought this right after I got my iPhone 5 along with an additional Lightning cable.

http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technology-PowerJolt-iPhone-Black/dp/B0042B82W6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1352134513&sr=8-7&keywords=iphone+car+charger

I have an iPhone 5. My huband has a 4S. I would prefer not to have to swap out chargers when we travel together. JEEZ. USB or NO-GO!

The solution I found above would work great for you. Its like $7 on Amazon (see link). The 30-Pin cord is coiled, I coiled the lightning cable myself... good enough for now.

Rating: 5 Positives

Porco

7 months ago

It's a shame so many companies ruin their designs (IMHO) by feeling the need to plaster their names all over the product, especially one like that dock, which as arguably one of its main functions is that of presentation (alongside being a place to charge/connect) might give them pause to think if it would increase or decrease potential sales to tarnish the otherwise sparse design with pointless branding.

Rating: 5 Positives

Dorje Sylas

7 months ago

Now if only I trusted Belkin products not to break within a month perhaps this would be worth something....

Rating: 4 Positives