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Seems the logical thing to do. The USB-C plug (although female) is similar in appearance to a Lightning cable so maybe even getting rid of the Lightning cable altogether might be a good thing. On a side note, I can charge my son's Nintendo Switch with a USB-C cable.
 
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Lightning is maybe slightly superior for mobile on the basis of it's slightly smaller size. But the advantages of every device using the same plug cannot be overstated. Everyone's chargers, cables, devices, etc would all be interoperable.

Have you paid attention to the USB-C "scene" at all? The cables and chargers are nightmare, and I think Benson may have finally <redacted> with a non-compliant cable because he's stopped reviewing them.

I shouldn't have to spend hours researching just to find a cable and charger that will work properly with a device, let alone one that won't set it on fire. That's (a reason) why I like Apple so much. Even with their implementation of USB-C/Thunderbolt, all you need is a USB Power Delivery charger and USB-PD compliant cable. Poof, done.

By having Lightning on the i-devices still, that makes it even easier to choose the right cable.

Edit: Additionally, Lightning is not only smaller, but more durable both on the connector and the port end itself.
 
I don't see this happening. Apple isn't going to go through yet another transition with the entire ecosystem of Lightning docks, headphones, and all other accessories for what will ultimately be short lived. Apple is pushing wireless everything. When the Lightning port disappears, it'll be for no port at all.

Syncing has gone from plugged-in to iCloud and it's now ubiquitous and nobody thinks about it twice. Earphones have gone wireless and this too is becoming standard. In Toronto where I live, I see AirPods everywhere but I also see other companies' neckbuds and other bluetooth earphones. The dangling wires plugged into phones are becoming rare. The final step is charging and AirPower will eventually make charging with a wire unnecessary.

The port on the bottom of the iPhone — first the 30 pin dock connector and now Lightning — is seeing less and less use. It's now barely used for anything other than charging. Within 5 years, as wireless charging improves and matches wired charging speeds, AirPower will be everywhere and the Lightning Port will get even less use. At that point, Apple might remove it from its newer iPhones and eventually all of them. There's no point in transitioning to USB-C now.
I concur with this. I dont see it happening. The port is larger also. there is no need for a usb-c port. apple will sell less lighting cables too.
only thing I do see is them shipping with a usb-c puck. also will work with the new Macs but other then that it will keep lightning
 
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Lighting is superior to USBC IMO. the port never fails, and always clicks, USBC becomes loose just like mini usb, and micro usb. I personally hate the connection itself.

Lightning connector is much better, superior, sturdier design. My ipad air bought in 2013, the pins still fits perfectly and starts charging in the first try, i don't feel like its even getting bit lose till date.

But frankly speaking i'm for having one connector for all. Either Apple should've opened lightning to the world (better option, imo) or adopt the usb c. Having one universal connector has benefits far beyond anything, IMO.
 
Apple should have dumped the lightning port for USB-C in 2016 with the iPhone 7. That would have been 'courage' - removing a proprietary port and embracing an open standard for both data, charging and a headphone standard.
I disagree.

We get good things in life because companies are able to innovate outside of the constraints of standards. We got lightning in the age of micro USB, which was a very good thing for consumers given how poor micro USB is as a connector. Apple users got to enjoy lightning for a whole 3 years before there was ever a device with a USB-C connector. If anything, it’s the standards that are stopping things being ‘great’ as USB-C has taken so long to get to market and has has compatibility problems along the way.

Both of which have been worse for customers in comparison to what Apple has been doing.

At this point, I would rather Apple just ride the lightning wave all the way till they are ready to dump the charging port altogether and release the first portless phone.
 
Lightning is maybe slightly superior for mobile on the basis of it's slightly smaller size. But the advantages of every device using the same plug cannot be overstated. Everyone's chargers, cables, devices, etc would all be interoperable.

Everybody's chargers will be interoperable. Apple put an end to the wireless charging standards war by choosing Qi. It'll be everywhere within a couple of years. Qi is starting to be built into desks, coffee shop tables, lamps, mouse pads, sofas, coffee tables, kitchen counters, bedroom side tables... everywhere you look, there'll be a Qi charger for you to rest your phone on. Cables will be irrelevant.
 
The Lightening port is mechanically superior to USB-C. I say this as a long-time user of iOS products (since the first iPhone) and one who tests and charges multiple devices. The port is always consistent and does not break. It's also really easy to clean and even if dirt gets into the Lighting port, it's fixed with a swoosh of compressed air.

I've had the 2016 MacBook Pro and it was a lemon. One of the issues was the USB-C ports were loose, issues with the battery and most of all the keyboard. After 5 trips to the Genius Bar, they gave me a new 2017 MacBook Pro and I haven't had issues.

Even though the Lighting cable is very reliable, USB-C has much more capability and speed so it's probably a matter of if/when Apple want's to bring those capabilities to iPhone/iPad. For instance, if you want to break the 1080p barrier with external video, they will likely support 4K over USB-C. That's because Lightning needs to MPEG compress the video and audio on the device to send it. If the architecture of iOS changes to send raw video/audio over the wire, then USB-C will be needed.
 
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Everybody's chargers will be interoperable. Apple put an end to the wireless charging standards war by choosing Qi. It'll be everywhere within a couple of years. Qi is starting to be built into desks, coffee shop tables, lamps, mouse pads, sofas, coffee tables, kitchen counters, bedroom side tables... everywhere you look, there'll be a Qi charger for you to rest your phone on. Cables will be irrelevant.

Right, they should stick to lightning and let it fade away as we usher into wireless power, there's no point, imo, changing to usb c at this point. It would've been wise if they would've jumped to usb c from 30-pin, but tech was not there then i think.
 
Doubt it. Apple would be losing out on a ton of licensing fees from third party accessory makers. I think Apple is more likely to ditch the port altogether in a few years than switching to a USB-C port on the phone in 2019.
 
When pigs fly in frozen hell.

Good write up over at

androidauthority dot com at the page

state-of-usb-type-c-870996
 
Yeah, this will never, ever happen. Aside from what was said about licensing fees, Apple is way too addicted at making their devices thinner. USB-C would make devices fatter. There's no way they'll ever do that.
 
The USB-IF recently organized a new MoU, targeted at reducing electronic junk. Starting in 2019, vendors are committed to chargers that use the USB-C standard. Note: the phones may use whatever connector on the device, as long as the included cable uses USB-C on the charger side. Apple is among the signees, therefore they have to change the charger to USB-C, but I very highly doubt they are going to drop Lightning.
 
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We get good things in life because companies are able to innovate outside of the constraints of standards. We got lightning in the age of micro USB, which was a very good thing for consumers given how poor micro USB is as a connector. Apple users got to enjoy lightning for a whole 3 years before there was ever a device with a USB-C connector. If anything, it’s the standards that are stopping things being ‘great’ as USB-C has taken so long to get to market and has has compatibility problems along the way.

No we get the good things in life when companies actually work within standards. Arguably the Mac was revived by dumping proprietary ports and moving to the open standard USB. Perhaps if Apple had worked on creating an open standard instead of Lightning, we would have gotten the benefits of Lightning and USB-C earlier. Apple tends to be able to push things into the mainstream.

Standards do not stop things from being great, they make things easier. Would you have preferred Apple never adopted USB-C and replaced SCSI and ADB with a completely proprietary port? Apple has failed pretty miserably with Firewire and then Thunderbolt 1.

At this point, I would rather Apple just ride the lightning wave all the way till they are ready to dump the charging port altogether and release the first portless phone.

That'll be fantastic for diagnostics.
 
Yes most likely just the charger - lightning at the phone end, with USB C at the charger/ computer end...
 
Lighting is superior to USBC IMO. the port never fails, and always clicks, USBC becomes loose just like mini usb, and micro usb. I personally hate the connection itself.

Consider yourself lucky. I find that my lightning cables regularly wear out after a year or so. The one I currently have in my car now fairly regularly results in a popup on my phone that says "This accessory may not be supported" or some such thing. I have to unplug the cable, turn it around, and plug it back in to hopefully get my phone charging once again. (And yes, I fairly regularly check to make sure there's no lint or other crud in the lightning port).
 
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