Customer Reviews

AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to Mini-B Cable 6 Feet / 1.8 m

Firstly, the quality of the USB cable is excellent. If this is anything to go by I am going to buy AmazonBasic instead of branded products in the future!

However, the frustration-free packaging is a different issue. I thought that the box was way too big for just a cable, and surely a plastic wrapper in a standard sized amazon folder/package would be more than enough to protect the product. It just seems like such a waste (even though it is recyclable).

Although this is a major issue, the product itself deserves five stars. The cable feels thick enough to withstand daily usage and the gold plating on the connectors is an added bonus. Highly recommended!

AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to Mini-B Cable (1.8 Metres) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging] is another interconnect in Amazon's range of quality connection cables. This cable shipped in just Amazon's Certified Frustration-Free Packaging with no outer box, unlike other cables I have received in this product range which came in additional huge outer packs!

The cable is well made and has a standard USB plug on one end and a mini USB B plug on the other, so is suitable for connecting peripherals such as cameras, satnavs and external hard-drives to your computer. I use mine mainly with a Buffalo external drive, which came supplied with a short, thin cable of not much use for anything, and my TomTom. This AmazonBasic is much more useful and of much higher quality and works perfectly. Although Amazon use the term basic in the description their range of cables are of very high quality and far from the cheapest available.

I now have three cables in the AmazonBasics range, all are of excellent quality and the range is one I am likely to consider first with any further purchases. A search for AmazonBasics in Electronics & Photo will show the current range on offer, which also includes CD and DVD blank discs. There are plenty of illustrations on the Amazon product page and an informative well illustrated Manufacturers Description which shows you exactly what you get for your money. The paperwork shown in the box is the warranty.

It's a cable, it's well made, it's fair value and comes in greenish packaging with Amazon's name onboard - `nuff said!

A few older cameras of mine use this mini-USB2 lead [although unfortunately all my new cameras seem to do their own thing and you end with a large collection of almost, but not quite, identical USB2 leads]. However I bought this lead for my sons new Sony PS3 250Gb slim games console, as Sony, rather miserably, don't provide a connection lead their PS3 dual-shock controller [when bought seperately for the PS3 as a second controller]. Usefully this lead is about 48cm longer than the standard Sony USB2 recharge lead, which gives a bit more freedom when using the controller in recharge mode [rather than wireless]. This lead naturally also fits the various extras like our Logitech PS3 wireless headset/mic that relies on the Sony USB ports for power/charge, and it looks identical the original PS3 one. With its little Amazon insert this lead looks quite classy and well made, and importantly it comes in black so it matches the PS3 [whereas my first choice Belkin's otherwise excellent leads, one with a fun LED, were only on offer in grey/orange colours and so were rejected for that reason alone].

This lead fits perfectly, is inexpensive, seems at least the equal of the Belkin leads, and works well. Plus the 'basics' packaging means you can extract it easily from it's thin plastic bag [rather than the usual fight with a tough sealed plastic pod]. It arrived well packed and promptly [in a big light cardboard box]. I suppose 5*, as it fits the bill perfectly - and being a standard mini-USB2 I can use the lead for my old cameras and 2.5" external laptop hard drive cases as well.

Note: this cable is not a newer 'micro-USB2' lead that has a flatter and curved small plug shape (a micro-USB2 cable fits my son's Blackberry Bold and my Performance MX mouse - rather than this leads old style straight sided trapesium shaped mini-USB2 plug that fits the PS3, many external 2.5" laptop hard-drive cases and some older cameras).

I know it's only a USB cable. I installed mine behind the dashboard of my car, which took a long time to reassemble, and it failed after a month. Perhaps it wasn't designed for in-car use. Looks nice though, with gold terminals.

There's not much you can say about a cable (ooh! look at the black on that...), but this cable does what you need it do to and, in my experience so far, is pretty robust in design. That's very useful for a USB cable that's likely to be plugged, unplugged and moved around quite a lot. The price is also very competitive with what I've seen in the high street.

Cable was to connect an external HDD to my PC as the original was not working. Cable did exactly what I wanted with no fuss and was delivered quickly.

I've had problems with cables so was a bit wary about this one, especially as it is titled 'basics'. But to my surprise and in veiw of the length (1.8m), it has performed faultlessly. And with such a competitive price, a must to have.

This item is a fine replacement for the charging cable which comes as standard with Sony PS3 used for charging the wireless controller. It scores highly on price, build quality and also the length. Most cables with gold-plated plugs are a bit more expensive than this one. The little 'Amazon Basics' raised badge on the plug increases the perceived value and makes the cable more esoteric-looking. The plugs are well terminated and of solid construction, as is the cable which is subtantially thicker and stiffer than the Sony one. Where it really scores is that the plugs fit reassuringly snugly, with little or no play when in use. One major selling advantage I didn't even realise iniitially, was that the cable is a good bit longer than the original one ie. 1.8m instead of 1.2m. This means I can play the PS3 with the cable connected without moving closer than usual to the tv screen. It also means I now have a wider range of safe places to lay the controller down when charging but not in use. A simple solution to a problem not-previously obvious. Nice one Amazon; I will certainly look at the AmazonBasics range for other interconnects in future.
...now, how about some nice cheap, heavy multi-strand speaker cable, Amazon?

I bought this to power a sat nav on my motorcycle - it does that fine. It's a decent thickness cable giving confidence it'll last as I have run it from under the saddle of my bike, forwards with an existing wiring loom to the dashboard area where it will stay permanently installed. I use it with a TomTom cigarette-lighter-style charger to power my TomTom Urban Rider sat nav, which it does fine. I can see why people talk about the mini-USB end being a bit un-tight in the socket, but I ran the cable in such a way as to remove any tension from the cable at the plug-in end and it stays put no problem.

Good value, does the job.

It seems odd reviewing a USB cable - after all, what is there to say? Nonetheless, this cable scores highly on two fronts - The cable itself is solidly made and has the flexibility to allow it to be tucked away no problem. Best of all is how it comes packaged - a plain cardboard box that can be opened in a few seconds with a thumbnail.

Providing you know the cable you want - Mini-B and micro-USB can look alike in pictures - you really can't go wrong.