We purchased the Anker PowerLine II so that our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and review it. Read on for our full product review.

The Anker PowerLine II cable is Anker’s take on a basic Lightning cable, one with a nice feature set without the cost or bells and whistles of fancier braided cables. With its protective rubber coating, reinforced connections, color options, and promises of excellent durability, this is certainly not a strict budget cable. But it’s also a fair bit cheaper than the official Apple cable. Read on as we discuss its design and durability, but suffice it to say, this is a great cable.

At first glance, the PowerLine II is simply a slick, rubberized cable with many of the same design features as a standard, official Lightning cable. The reinforced ends that wrap toward the metal connectors are a nice mix between “rounded” and “squared,” meaning they won’t snag on edges, like the corner of a desk or side table.

The Anker logo is nice and subtle, pressed into the rubber on the USB-A side, which is a good look in our book as it doesn’t call attention to anything beyond the solid color. We tested a bright, candy-apple red with a soft matte finish, which is a really striking color. You can also opt for a more subtle white or black, or a bright royal blue. It’s a pretty standard selection of colors for third-party Lightning cables, but it’s a lot more than you get beyond the standard, official white.