Last week, Anker debuted a special edition 24K gold-plated USB-C to Lightning cable priced at $100, marking an unusual departure for the popular accessory company known for producing high-quality products at reasonable prices.

anker gold cable box
While the cable itself is really just the company's PowerLine+ III cable with gold plating, Anker offered to send one over to me so I decided to check it out.

Unboxing

The cable comes packaged in a clamshell cardboard box inside a black and gold sleeve covered in product details and imagery. Sliding the box out of the sleeve, you'll find some raised gold text with the Anker logo and tagline.

The box is held closed magnetically, but it doesn't require much force to flip it open, where you're greeted with the two gold connectors and a bit of the cable prominently displayed in a custom box insert. The remainder of the cable is hidden away, coiled inside the insert.

anker gold cable box open
The top portion of the box includes some "You're Now A Part of Charging Royalty" text to help make you feel like it was worth spending $100 on a Lightning cable, and a pull tab lets you lift the panel to reveal the leather-like storage pouch for the cable.

anker gold cable box pouch
All in all, it's a relatively premium unboxing experience, particularly for something as straightforward as a cable, and it's clear Anker is anticipating a lot of these will be given as gifts.

The Cable

I've used Anker's regular PowerLine+ III cables, and they're very high quality with good reinforcement at the base of each connector and a braided cable for a premium feel and durability. The regular version comes in three- and six-foot lengths, while the 24K gold version is only available in the six-foot length. I generally prefer the longer cables anyway, as they offer great flexibility for stretching a bit farther from an outlet than the standard cables Apple includes with its devices.

anker gold cable
The cable on the new PowerLine+ III is 30 percent slimmer than on the previous PowerLine+ II, but it's even more durable. Anker says the braided cables are rated to withstand 35,000 bends, and they come with a lifetime warranty against quality issues.

The connectors are made from scratch-resistant stainless steel, and the cables support high-speed charging over Lightning with at least an 18-watt power adapter.

So what makes the new 24K gold cable different from the regular version other than a $100 price tag instead of $35? Well, it's mostly about the looks. The gold plating on the connectors and the black-and-gold braiding on the cable certainly stand out, so you'll definitely be able to pick it out of a crowd.

anker gold cable pouch open
The included cable tie is plastic-backed velcro on the regular PowerLine+ III cables, but the 24K gold version uses a leather strap with a gold pin to fit with the luxury theme. A leather-effect pouch with a gold snap closure continues that theme, giving you a place to store your cable when not in use and keep it from getting damaged.

anker gold cable pouch
When it comes to functionality, there's no difference compared to the regular version, which is already a premium USB-C to Lightning cable. I've obviously only had the cable for a few days, but so far I've experienced no problems with it.

Braided cables tend to be a little bit stiffer than traditional ones and frequently don't coil quite as smoothly, but if you've used other braided cables you've probably already seen this.

The connectors on Anker's PowerLine cables are also significantly larger than the ones on Apple's cables. It makes the connectors easier to grab, but it can potentially cause issues with certain cases, for example, that don't have enough clearance around the Lightning port. It's not something I've run into with this or other PowerLine cables, but I have on occasion seen it in the past with certain combinations of iPad cases and other third-party cables.

Wrap-up

Do you need Anker's 24K gold-plated USB-C to Lightning cable? Of course not, and Anker isn't expecting to sell a ton of them. But it's a fun way for the company to take an existing product to the next level and there will undoubtedly be some users willing to drop a Benjamin for something relatively unique, either for themselves or as a gift.

If you're interested in checking out Anker's gold-plated Lightning cable, it's available at Amazon for $99.99.

Note: Anker provided MacRumors with the special edition gold-plated Lightning cable for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Tag: Anker

Top Rated Comments

NickName99 Avatar
66 months ago
Some folks just really dig gold



Attachment Image
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JimmyBanks6 Avatar
66 months ago

The kind of douche bag that would buy this is also the mini-frappachino-skinny latte beard stroking niche coffee shop dweller, who desperately wants to be taken seriously in life...
Projections of insecurities.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Saturnine Avatar
66 months ago
But it's a fun way for the company to take an existing product to the next level
I have no idea what this means.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
UltimateSyn Avatar
66 months ago
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bassanoclapper Avatar
66 months ago
If you buy this cable, I have a bridge you might be interested in
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EugW Avatar
66 months ago

The kind of douche bag that would buy this is also the mini-frappachino-skinny latte beard stroking niche coffee shop dweller, who desperately wants to be taken seriously in life...
Nah, the hipsters you seem to be talking about generally don’t buy this type of crap.

Wrong characterization of the stereotype my friend.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

WWDC25 Live Coverage Feature 1

WWDC 2025 Apple Event Live Keynote Coverage: iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and More

Monday June 9, 2025 9:00 am PDT by
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day. We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements led by a design revamp across Apple's platforms that will also see the numbering of all of...
maxresdefault

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2025 in 9 Minutes

Monday June 9, 2025 5:21 pm PDT by
At today's WWDC 2025 keynote event, Apple unveiled a new design that will inform the next decade of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS development, so needless to say, it was a busy day. Apple also unveiled a ton of new features for the iPhone, an overhauled Spotlight interface for the Mac, and a ton of updates that make the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
liquid glass

Apple Announces All-New 'Liquid Glass' Software Redesign Across iOS 26 and More

Monday June 9, 2025 10:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a complete redesign of all of its major software platforms called "Liquid Glass." Announced simultaneously for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and CarPlay, Liquid Glass forms a new universal design language for the first time. At its WWDC 2025 keynote address, Apple's software chief Craig Federighi said "Apple Silicon has become dramatically more powerful...
iPadOS 26 Apple Newsroom

Apple Says iPadOS 26 is Compatible With These iPad Models

Monday June 9, 2025 11:22 am PDT by
Apple today announced that iPadOS 26 will be compatible with the iPad models listed below. iPadOS 26 features a new Liquid Glass design, a menu bar, improved app windowing, and more. iPadOS 26 supports the following iPad models:iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (M2 and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Says These 13 Vehicle Brands Will Soon Offer iPhone Car Keys

Monday June 9, 2025 2:38 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote today, Apple said that 13...
Apple WWDC25 iOS 26 hero 250609

Apple Announces iOS 26 With 'Liquid Glass' Design, Live Translation, Overhauled Phone App, and More

Monday June 9, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC announced iOS 26, introducing a comprehensive visual redesign built around its new "Liquid Glass" concept, alongside expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, updates to core communication apps, and more. Liquid Glass is a translucent material that reflects and refracts surroundings to create dynamic, responsive interface elements, according to Apple. The new design language...