Lab notes
Guides
Plain-English explanations of the things that decide whether an accessory works: ports, cable standards, charging power, wireless charging — and how to buy safely in the UK.
- 01USB-C cables explained: speed, power and ThunderboltEvery USB-C cable has the same plug, but they don’t all do the same job. Here’s how to tell a charge-only cable from a 40Gb/s Thunderbolt cable, and which one your device needs.
- 02How fast can my iPhone, iPad or Mac charge?The charger wattage Apple quotes for fast charging on each device, using only Apple’s own figures. Covers why a bigger charger is safe, and what changes when your Mac comes without a charger in the b…
- 03MagSafe vs Qi2 vs Qi: which wireless charger for your iPhone?MagSafe, Qi2, Qi2 25W and plain Qi explained. Covers which iPhones support each, how fast they charge, the power adapter you need, and what works through a case.
- 04Choosing a USB-C hub or dock for your MacHub, dock or single adapter? How to match one to your Mac’s ports, why the number of external displays depends on your Mac’s chip and not the dock, and what to check for laptop charging.
- 05“MFi”, “Made for iPhone” and Find My accessories explainedWhat Apple’s MFi badge does and doesn’t cover, why there’s no MFi badge on a USB-C charger, and how third-party Find My trackers work. All from Apple’s own pages.
- 06Buying chargers safely in the UKHow to avoid fake and unsafe chargers and power banks. Covers what UKCA and CE marks mean, warning signs to look for when buying online, and how to charge safely, from UK safety bodies and Apple.
- 07Moving from Lightning to USB-CWhich Apple devices use USB-C now, what to do with Lightning accessories, what Apple’s USB-C to Lightning Adapter can and can’t do, and where the UK stands on common-charger rules.
- 08Protecting a new iPhone: cases, screens and chargingHow to choose a case and screen protector that fit your exact iPhone and keep MagSafe and Qi2 charging working. Includes what Apple says about Ceramic Shield, metal cases and liquids.
- 09Apple Watch bands: which size fits my watch?Apple Watch bands come in two size groups. Here’s which group your watch is in, why 42mm is confusing, and what to check before you buy.
- 10Cleaning your iPhone, Mac and AirPods safelyWhat Apple says you can and can’t use to clean screens, cables, MagSafe chargers and AirPods, and what to look for in a cleaning kit.