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Apple charges a premium for its cables. The Lightning to 30-pin adapter may have some sophisticated circuitry, but is it really worth $39? If you think it's not, a Chinese firm called iPhone5Mod has come out with its own adapter for substantially less. Just be prepared to wait a while.
iPhone5Mod is selling a Lightning to 30-pin adapter for $19. That's less than half the price of the Apple's. All you need is a credit card and patience. The third-party adapter needs "10-14 days of processing lead-time" before it ships, then seven to 20 days for the $4 airmail shipping to run its course. Apple also charges $4 for shipping, but that takes only five to seven days. So iPhone5Mod lets you save $20 as long as you're willing to give up a month.
You can also opt for Speedpost five- to seven-day shipping, but that would add $26 to an order to San Francisco. So unless you're ordering in bulk, that wipes out your savings.
iPhone5mod sells other Lighting products, including a USB cable and an iPhone 5 dock with a light-up cable. According to the company, the products support "iTunes, Data Sync and Battery Charging" and "uses parts of same quality as Apple suppliers." Considering the technology inside Apple's new cables, purchasing from a third-party could be a gamble.
Then again, hey, you just saved $20.
