Apple Considered iPhone 15 With Lightning Port Before Swapping to USB-C

[dkh587]

Sooooo, like any other corporation whose goal is to make as much money as possible?

If you think there’s a publicly traded corporation out there whose goal is to make as much money as possible, with any integrity then you’re sorely mistaken…. Some may pretend they have integrity publicly, but I can assure you behind closed doors in those board rooms they are hatching up ways to milk their customers.

Sadly, you're right.

 

[East India Company]

Lightning is the most robust and easy to use connector I have ever had and used in my life.

And I go way back. My first connectors were 8 pin, to all vacuum tube apparatus. No BS. Then transistors came along and barrel connectors came with them. Barrel connectors: They're OK, second best of all time IMO. SCSI sucked, being massive, and severely distance limited and $$$$$! Headphone jacks were fine, scratchy sometimes but mostly work. RCAs are still around, good and cheap. Screw on connectors like for cable TV and antennas eventually always strip, usually do to slight out of spec thread cutting by the manufacturer. Serial sucked, constant connection issues due to line noise. Early Apple had some other weird ports I don't remember and never used. The IBMPC keyboard and VGA connectors sucked.

miniUSB I thought was Ultimate Hell until microUSB came along and explained to me true torture. Then Lightning, by the grace of God, graced my world. Greatest connector ever designed. The cables die, buthe port never does. It's unbelievable how robust the lightning port is!

USB-C connector is S H I T!!!!! I hate it. It's not as bad as microUSB, but what the hell kind of a low bar is that to beat?!?!? They are a BAD DESIGN. They will INEVITABLY break, and then generally the device is done. Worthless unless you're great and disassembly of glued parts and microsoldering.

Sigh. I give up. Whatever. I suffered with microUSB for years, I guess I'll be used to the pain again.

I fully agree.
It’s a shame that lightning did not evolve to the level of usb c. Mechanically lighting is really superior and the build is simple. I hope usb 5 will adopt a similar mechanical design than lightning.

 

[erikkfi]

Apple tried it and was like “huh, our customers are right, USB-C is way better!”

 

[FelixDerKater]

Oh, you can be certain they did...

 

[d5aqoëp]

This was one last attempt to milk the lightning ecosystem before they realised it was too late for that and they need to milk USB-C ecosystem with proprietary crap.

 

[Gudi]

Why is it so hard for Apple to implement USB-C? Let go of the lighting. It's over 10 years old. It is outdated.

How often do I need to correct this misconception? Yes, the Lightning port was introduced by Phil Schiller on September 12, 2012. It is indeed over a decade old by now. But the USB-C standard was finalized in August 2014. It will become outdated a.k.a. "over 10 years old" during the first year of the iPhone 15. So you either get used to the idea of USB-D or you let go of the notion that Lightning is obsolete.

 

[AppleBuddy1]

I don't like USB-C. Lightning is way better.

 

[Choco Taco]

You realize no one cares what you do right?

Of all the flavors in the world, you chose to be salty.

I don't like USB-C. Lightning is way better.

Yes, the eternally slow transfer speed is great.

 

[coolfactor]

I just hope they can make the usb-c port as durable as the lightning port.

I used to be a huge Lightning fan because it's a very elegant design, but I've now had THREE iPhones fail on me! They just won't connect via Lightning, and I barely used the port on the latest two due to Qi charging. Not sure why I've had such bad luck. USB-C has never failed me on any of my devices. It's time.

 

[svish]

Good to hear that the final version will be having USB C

 

[Piggie]

Do we think that Apple will be allowed to get away with the locking down a fast charging unless a premium is paid to them to licence the special charging cable.
I suspect regulators will be unhappy that Apple are being as difficult as possible and require them to not lock down the leads so they can again get more money from people.

What do you think will happen?

 

[Mity]

I just hope they can make the usb-c port as durable as the lightning port.

USB-C is superior to Lightning in every way, including durability. That's why every Android phone has USB-C. If Lightning was more durable, then Apple would have created a similar form factor for the iPad Pro and Macs.

 

[Mity]

Welcome to 2015, Apple!

 

[Aston441]

Apple also has the option to include both ports same way as some gaming Android phones have two Type-C ports. And yes there is enough room inside as when Apple removed the SIM tray from the US version of the iPhone 14 line they replaced it with a simple plastic box.

Why not just make an inferior USB-C model just for Europe, and otherwise let the rest of the world have the regular non-police-nanny-state superior Lightning port

How often do I need to correct this misconception? Yes, the Lightning port was introduced by Phil Schiller on September 12, 2012. It is indeed over a decade old by now. But the USB-C standard was finalized in August 2014. It will become outdated a.k.a. "over 10 years old" during the first year of the iPhone 15. So you either get used to the idea of USB-D or you let go of the notion that Lightning is obsolete.

Agree. It's like the lightbulb E26 base standard. It's great, simple, mostly always works, for more than a century. It will still be around in 200 years. No reason to mess with it. Lots of other light bulb connectors have come and gone. E26 remains, and will always remain.

Lightning should be the E26 of data/charge cables. It's demise confounds me!

 

[contacos]

They CAN'T be as durable! Thats why lighting is a MUCH better port for a portable device. A ten buck cable failure or a 500 dollar port replacement. The choice is yours!

I guess different people, different experiences. My damn lightning cables always break (revealing the wires underneath) after a while, while I have not had a single USB-C cable break. It’s always been on the exact same position too!

 

[Born Again]

Why not just make an inferior USB-C model just for Europe, and otherwise let the rest of the world have the regular non-police-nanny-state superior Lightning port

Agree. It's like the lightbulb E26 base standard. It's great, simple, mostly always works, for more than a century. It will still be around in 200 years. No reason to mess with it. Lots of other light bulb connectors have come and gone. E26 remains, and will always remain.

Lightning should be the E26 of data/charge cables. It's demise confounds me!

Um we have had so many iPhone charging cables over the years. I disagree - i[pad pro usb c is amazing

 

[FelixDerKater]

Possibly a USB-C to specially restricted MFi USB-C dongle is in order.

 

[syklee26]

The iPhone 15 Pro should use a Thunderbolt cable, like the M1 iPad does.

I dont think thunderbolt cable is included with iPad. It is usb-c.

 

[bassanoclapper]

USB-C is superior to Lightning in every way, including durability. That's why every Android phone has USB-C. If Lightning was more durable, then Apple would have created a similar form factor for the iPad Pro and Macs.

Strong disagree. In my experience, the durability of the USB-C port is inferior. I had an iPad Pro that started having charging issues after a bout 18 months and have friends who work in customer facing roles who see a lot of returns for USB-C port issues. I’ve never had an issue with Lightning

 

[cyanite]

(despite the years of arguing that changing would be bad for e-waste)

When did Apple ever argue that? Much less for “years”.

The best part about lightning is the "clips" that keep it in place are on the cable not the port

They are, though. The Lightning cable has two dimples, one on each side. The port has whatever presses into those (e.g. a spring loaded protrusion), to keep the plug in place.

Apple is so Arrogant, they will for sure tout environmental savings/benefits by going to USB-C and I bet wont even ship with a cable, you know, you can use the one you already have...

So buy a USB cable once, and you now have a cable. The EU regulation actually encourages unbundling cables (and demands unbundling chargers).

 

[MuppetGate]

They CAN'T be as durable! Thats why lighting is a MUCH better port for a portable device. A ten buck cable failure or a 500 dollar port replacement. The choice is yours!

Apple is going to make so much money in device repairs, I’m kinda surprised they didn’t do this sooner. 🤔

I will miss that satisfying click when the cable snaps into place. 😞

 

[tcgjeukens]

... Apple may not need to rely on USB-C charging for too long, as the company has been pushing MagSafe wireless charging. iPhones since the iPhone 12 have incorporated MagSafe ...

I guess Apple sustainability claims are marketing only. Wireless charging is a colossal waste of energy.
Wireless charging requires up to 47 percent more energy.
Sold as convenience, but destroying the planet.

 

[MuppetGate]

DARN. JUST SWITCH. stop milking your customers for expensive, slow, non standard connection.

Switching to USB-C doesn’t necessarily mean they have to speed up the connection.

They could have improved lightning years ago. They just didn’t bother; probably because they knew eventually they would be moving to USB-C.

Is this proof that Apple invented USB-C?

The war regarding whether Apple did or did not invent the USB-C connector witnessed a pretty decisive development this morning, as Apple was awarded a

www.cultofmac.com

 

[SoldOnApple]

I just want stronger or multiple MagSafe areas on the back of the iPad Pro so I can mount it to my car or to an arm over my bed, with wireless charging.

 

[tomtad]

You know, I really wish Tim would just leave at this point