3-in-1 Cables

One cable for a house full of different phones

A 3-in-1 cable has one plug at the charger end and three at the other, usually USB-C, Lightning and micro-USB. It suits a home, a car or a desk at work shared by people with different phones: an older iPhone on Lightning, a newer phone on USB-C, and an old pair of earbuds, a torch or a speaker that still has micro-USB. One cable in the kitchen drawer or the glovebox does for all of them.

What is here

The cables here today include a 3-in-1 cable with micro-USB, USB-C and Lightning ends on a USB-A plug, 1.2m long; another 3-in-1 cable at 1.2m, listed for high-power charging with a compatible phone and wall charger; and a 4-in-1 cable in 1m, 1.5m and 2m lengths, with fast charging figures given for its USB-C ends. Each listing shows the plug at the charger end. Match it to your charger: USB-A for an older plug charger or a car's USB socket, USB-C for a newer charger.

What a multi-end cable does well, and what it does not

These cables are a convenience rather than the fastest way to charge. Most charge more slowly than a single cable made for one phone, and some can charge only one phone at a time, even with every plug connected. The figures on a listing are the most the cable can carry; the phone, the charger and the cable together set the real speed. For a phone that charges fast and goes on charge every night, a single cable with the right plugs, such as a USB-C to USB-C cable, will do better. For the glovebox, a holiday bag or a desk that several people share, a 3-in-1 cable saves a tangle of separate ones.

Checking which plugs you need

Look at each phone's socket. A rounded oval is USB-C, on iPhone 15 and later and most recent Android phones. A narrower slot with a flat bar inside is Lightning, on iPhones from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 14. A smaller socket that is wider on one side than the other is micro-USB, found on older Android phones and small gadgets. If nobody in the house uses one of the three, a single cable or a small converter may be simpler.

Questions people ask about 3-in-1 cables

Can I charge three phones at once?

Some cables can and some charge only one at a time. Where several charge together, they share the cable's power, so each fills more slowly.

Will it fast-charge an iPhone?

Fast charging an iPhone with Lightning needs a USB-C charger with USB Power Delivery and a USB-C to Lightning cable. A 3-in-1 cable on a USB-A plug will charge an iPhone, but not at its fastest. See Lightning cables and the guide to which cable your phone needs.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• USB-C to USB-C cables
• Lightning cables
• Converters
• Travel kits
• For drivers
• Short cables
• Guide: Which charging cable does my phone need?