Back in 2012, when Apple gave the iPhone’s charging port a makeover with the iPhone 5, it marked a significant shift from the old 30-pin connector, which had debuted on the iPod. This transition brought in the Lightning system, an Apple-developed connector that came with several improvements.
The standout features were the introduction of reversible cables and a much smaller form factor—80 percent tinier than its predecessor.With the upcoming iPhone 15 lineup expected to debut soon, Apple seems ready to switch up the iPhone’s ports once more. However, this time around, the change is anticipated to be from Lightning to USB-C, a versatile USB standard that’s widely used across different devices, from Android phones and Windows PCs to Apple’s own Macs and iPads.
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The credit for this change at Apple goes to the European Union, which passed a law requiring universal USB-C phone chargers to be adopted by 2024. This legal requirement effectively pushed Apple towards this decision.Interestingly, while this change might mean you need new cables for your iPhone, adopting USB-C comes with a slew of advantages that could make the transition smoother.Apple was responsible for both the Lightning and iPod connectors, which often led to expensive and sometimes hard-to-find authentic cables. However, by moving to USB-C, Apple is aligning itself with a well-established standard it has supported for a long time.
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Notably, good quality USB-C cables are easily available, and due to their widespread use, many iPhone 15 users might already have compatible accessories at their disposal.This transition is evident in Apple’s product lineup. The company introduced USB-C to its laptops with the 2015 12-inch MacBook. At present, all of Apple’s MacBooks and most of its iPads come with USB-C ports.
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The only exception is the 9th-generation iPad, introduced in 2021, which still sticks to the Lightning port. This iPad model is the most budget-friendly option and also the last one to feature a physical home button.Even in the past year, accessories like the Siri remote for Apple TV have shifted from Lightning to USB-C.
There are speculations that Apple’s upcoming updates to the AirPods lineup, including earbuds and headphones, might also embrace this change. The initial step in this direction could be seen with a new AirPods Pro case set to release this fall.Furthermore, the move to USB-C could bring in advantages like faster wired charging and quicker data transfer for the iPhone.
USB-C comes with notable benefits, such as considerably faster charging and data transfer rates. By using a Lightning to USB-C cable for wired iPhone charging (paired with a 20W or higher power adapter), you could reach around 50% battery capacity in just 30 minutes, as per Apple’s official support documentation.
This accelerated charging capacity is especially evident in larger devices like laptops, where USB-C has showcased its prowess.According to a recent report by 9to5Mac, a new rumor suggests that Apple might push wired fast charging to 35W for specific models within the iPhone 15 lineup.For those who still rely on backing up data to a computer or transferring photos and videos through a cable, the latest Thunderbolt standard, which utilizes USB-C as the connector, offers an impressive 40Gbps file transfer capability.
There’s speculation that Apple, having worked with Intel on Thunderbolt’s development, might introduce this technology to the iPhone 15 series.It’s worth noting that while Thunderbolt operates through USB-C, Thunderbolt cables and accessories can be pricier than standard USB-C counterparts.
For those primarily concerned with charging capabilities, regular USB-C cables might be the more practical choice. You can find more distinctions between the two here.Even if Apple doesn’t fully integrate Thunderbolt support, a USB-C connector inherently offers significantly higher performance limits compared to Lightning.