Guide · Phones, tech and TVs
How long should a phone charger or cable last in Australia?
A phone charger or cable bought for around $30 should last about 12 months or more.
Even a $30 charger or cable is covered. If it fails, runs hot or frays well before it should, it’s a fault.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long a phone charger or cable should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $100 | 12 months |
| $100 to $500 | 2 years |
| Over $500 | 4 years |
For one bought around $30:
- Under 7 months: very likely covered.
- 7 months to 12 months: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 12 months: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- It runs hot or smells of burning
- The cable frays or the connector comes loose
- It only charges at a certain angle, or not at all
What usually isn’t covered
- A cable chewed by a pet or bent at the end every day for years
- Damage from using a cheap, uncertified part with it
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
Safety first. If it overheats, sparks, smells of burning or has hurt someone, stop using it. Then check Product Safety Australia for a recall.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought a phone charger or cable here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for a phone charger or cable
A charger that runs hot is a safety issue. Stop using it, take it back and check the recall list.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should a phone charger or cable last?
By our guide, a phone charger or cable bought for around $30 should last about 12 months or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to a phone charger or cable after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if a phone charger or cable fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Is it worth the bother if a phone charger or cable was cheap?
Yes. Cheap things are covered too, with no minimum price. A quick, polite ask at the service desk is usually the way to go. You’ll still need proof you bought it. A receipt, a bank or card statement or an order email will do.
More guides
- How long should a power bank last?
- How long should a soundbar or speaker last?
- How long should a watch or fitness tracker last?
- How long should a TV last?
- See all guides
Where this comes from
ACCC: consumer rights and guarantees · Product Safety Australia: recalls