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

[Paddle1]

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 It will become outdated a.k.a. "over 10 years old" during the first year of the iPhone 15. So you either get used to the idea of USB-D or you let go of the notion that Lightning is obsolete.

It's not a misconception. Lightning is bottlenecked by its physical limitations, it still functions as it did in 2012. USB-C tech continues to evolve.

The only exception is when they put USB-C on one end of the Lightning cable to enable faster charging. They attempted faster data transfer on iPad once but quickly gave in to USB-C.

 

[Charlie.V]

Apple, please make all future USB-C cords braided like the ones that came with the 24" iMac.

I don't think the phone will come with a cord

 

[Charlie.V]

They’ve been delaying USB-C until sales slumped enough, which has finally happened.

I think at some point they were hoping to go from lightning to no cord but wireless speeds are too far off

 

[RandomTox]

Just make the switch already. Lightning cords do not last long. Just paid 30.- to replace one of mine.

 

[RandomTox]

If Apple doesn't get rid of the lightning port. Get yourself ready for the struggle. We will be coming across this. 👇

View attachment 2190482

More bucks for Apple and accessories makers. They gonna like it.

 

[ImaginaryNerve]

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

Not going to lie--I'm a bit miffed with USB-C ports at the moment. The one on my UPS Backup is broken in such a way as the current seems to leak through to my phone and makes it impossible to use plugged in (the touchscreen on the phone or iPad doesn't respond sometimes), the USB-C port on my video card on my PC is so loose that sometimes it just falls out and I have to replug the cord back in, and finally the USB-C cable that came with my iPad Pro was actually broken to where the plastic cover came unglued or wasn't glued correctly at the factory and when I unplugged it the very first time the plastic came off but left it plugged in.

I've actually had much worse luck with USB-C than lightning, if I'm honest.

 

[redbeard331]

I'm not really concerned about that, other manufactures have been able to make it IP68-rated. Although I liked how the lightning snapped into place, seemed secure. But I take less cables any day. Thank you Europe, Apple would be having us living in a dongle world till we die. It's the legacy of Tim Cook, his love with dongles and squeezing the extra dollars out of customers. I think he laughs every day because he knows someone in the world every second has forgotten their dongle at home and is having a moment!

It’s not water proofing I’m concerned with, on my Samsung the port feels mushy, you have to really force the cable into the port to get it to want to fast charge. I don’t have any experience with Apple's implementation in the iPads, but I like how lightning always feels secure and seems to click perfectly into place everytime you put it in. I feel like Apple will get it right though because I can’t see them going backwards on this.

 

[redbeard331]

It wont be.
The best part about lightning is the "clips" that keep it in place are on the cable not the port (unlike USB-C where the port has the "clips").
What does this mean? When the retention fails on the device you used to be able to just get a new cable but now you will need to replace the USB-C port or the entire device.

This is what has me concerned, when you slide the lightning cable into the port it has that satisfying click. USB-C feels like I’m inserting the cable into a port full of play doh, I hope it doesn’t feel that way on a iPhone.

 

[redbeard331]

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!

Looks like we will all be inserting our usb-C cables with extra caution come late September. 😬

 

[redbeard331]

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.

Odd luck yes you have. I’ve had many many cables fail on me, but only one port, and that was on my iPhone 6S after I washed it, so I take the blame for that one.

 

[redbeard331]

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.

Hmmm, my iPhones all feel new when I plug them in, the usbC port on my Samsung feels like plugging into a bowl of oatmeal.

 

[redbeard331]

Not going to lie--I'm a bit miffed with USB-C ports at the moment. The one on my UPS Backup is broken in such a way as the current seems to leak through to my phone and makes it impossible to use plugged in (the touchscreen on the phone or iPad doesn't respond sometimes), the USB-C port on my video card on my PC is so loose that sometimes it just falls out and I have to replug the cord back in, and finally the USB-C cable that came with my iPad Pro was actually broken to where the plastic cover came unglued or wasn't glued correctly at the factory and when I unplugged it the very first time the plastic came off but left it plugged in.

I've actually had much worse luck with USB-C than lightning, if I'm honest.

Looks like it’s time for us to buy stock in Amazon knock off USB-C cables my friend.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

My guess is they are going to do one for NA with lightning and one for EU with USB-C. Just as they did with the sim slot. We have the 14 pro/max up here with the sim tray, US does not.

 

[DarthDon]

SCSI 😂

 

[aeternitas]

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

Apple really is in need of a change in direction. Tim’s milk factory already has very old cows.

 

[Mity]

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

When USB-C first came out in late 2014 / early 2015, there WERE some issues with implementation with poor quality cables, which was due to 3rd party manufacturers, not the design itself. No USB-C device I've had since 2016 has been an issue for me, including my 2018 iPad Pro. Also, Apple is part of the consortium that created USB-C.

 

[redbeard331]

SCSI 😂

Can we get the kind you had to screw in?

 

[DarthDon]

Can we get the kind you had to screw in?

If you go down to the com-port, no problem 🤣

 

[slplss]

Apple, please make all future USB-C cords braided like the ones that came with the 24" iMac.

There’s no way. We’ll be lucky if the USBC port can do more than USB 2.0 speeds from early 2000 like the Lighting did.

 

[originalsk]

Sure, let's make iPhone capable of capturing 4K, 8K, high framerate, ProRes videos, and then let user wait eternity while transfering data with AirDrop or super slow connector. "Just works".

Please Apple, don't make jokes of consumers by limiting transfer speeds.

 

[Sinfonist]

Funny, I have two braided cords (Watch and Magic Keyboard) that I won’t use because I figure they’ll get grimy so I use my existing cords.

I have braided and unbraided cables for various uses. The unbraided white ones definitely look dirty after some use, the braided coloured ones look clean. The main reason for me using white cables is so I can identify the Lightning ones easily, including in the car

 

[Abazigal]

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If Apple doesn't get rid of the lightning port. Get yourself ready for the struggle. We will be coming across this.

View attachment 2190482

And here, I am like - what port?

 

[Luap]

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.

But 9 year old USB-C is fine? For what, a year or 2? Then what? Wait for the next bandwagon to jump on for jumping on bandwagons sake? Will you even know why you'll want USB-X or will you just automatically want it?

 

[AppleBuddy1]

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.

I disagree with you. I have Samsung with the USB-C port and... And that port is already destroyed.
Lightning port has an ideal fit.

 

[philcourage]

Apple also considered unicorn dust for the finish but end up deciding it was too expensive and cancelled it.