We tested this with our iPad and it worked like a champ. In our case, the iPad travels between work and home, and needs charging. It doesn't sync on the work computer, which means there's little point in docking. There's also the reality of my computer for work having every USB port taken up by some sort of attachment. The natural choice once
XL USB Dock Cable entered my life was to bring it to work, while leaving the thin cord Apple shipped with my iPad at home, where I actually sync my device. Cords like this don't measure gauge in the way we do with regular extension cords, but this is like a smaller cousin of the 10-gauge cord I keep around for times when I need a cord that can run something like a jackhammer without melting down... The heft of this cord makes it feel incredibly well made and sturdy, which we tested a bit by lugging it around from backpack to office to backpack again.
The standard-issue XL USB Dock Cable is ready-made for USB charging or syncing to your desktop/laptop, but allows a huge range of movement if that is something you need or want. With the addition of that little USB adaptor that came with the iPad, we were able to charge from a standard wall receptacle. Another key difference between this and the iPad original cable is the bit that slots directly into the bottom of the device. The factory cord features a very slim, low profile bit of plastic that you push or pull to engage the cord. XL USB Dock Cable sports a larger, but similarly shaped, plastic mount that feels much easier to manage. This is especially true for folks with larger fingers and hands, who will feel like they're plucking a little flower every time they work with the factory cord.