Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone Sticking With Lightning Port Over USB-C for 'Foreseeable Future'

sw1tcher said:
The other explanation as to why Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack.

For people who want ear/headphones, this forces them to either

(1) buy wired ear/headphones with lightning connector from Apple or MFi certified ones, or
(2) buy wireless earphones... most of which will likely be a variant of Apple's AirPods or something from their Beats line.

In either case, Apple win$.

KaNxPJk.png
Click to expand...

Yes, but the consumer also wins because Apple is holding the market to a higher standard of excellence. This is quite often overlooked. If you study the Asian market, cheap and unrealible electronics are being sold left, right and centre that barely last a reasonable lifetime. Apple is fighting for the consumer and the environment by maintaining strict and high standards.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Disagree
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos, secretbum, Icaras and 4 others
Long Live Lightning!

Honestly, I still have so many lightning enabled devices my house, that USB-C isn’t really relevant to me yet, but I understand the transition away from lightning eventually. But I think Apple realizes that the majority of the consumer base still relies on lightning and will for years to come with such an extensive history of products that support it.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Icaras and Suckfest 9001
MacRumors said:
We believe that USB-C is detrimental to the MFi business's profitability, and its waterproof specification is lower than Lightning and MagSafe.
Click to expand...
That’s a pretty irresponsible quote. Makes it sound like Apple is the one who came out with it. They would never (even if true) quote cost as the reason to stick with something.
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos and dwaite
thebeans said:
Dumb idea. Different ports on different phone models?? Seriously??
Click to expand...
iPad:
  • iPad: Lightning
  • iPad mini: Lightning
  • iPad Air: USB-C
  • iPad Pro: USB-C
Everyone in my household has either iPad or Mac. All of them have USB-C connectors. Lightning and USB-C connectors are very similar and having to figure out which is which can be frustrating.
 
WestonHarvey1 said:
Why would Lightning appease the masses? The masses have all sorts of USB-C chargers and cables laying around now.
Click to expand...
When Apple switched from docking connector to Lightning connector, people cried foul. Splitting the iPhone product line with two different charging connectors would satisfy pro users wanting USB-C connector for all and those that prefer to use existing Lightning charging cables.
 
Good. I like lightning and don’t care for usb-c. I doubt the average consumer even knows what that means; it’s a tech bubble obsession. Glad next years models won’t be portless also because I’m not ready for that yet myself.
 
I'm not understanding the logic behind sticking to Lightning, yes I get the "convenience" factor and that there are billions of cables/accessories out there, but, USB-C is starting to take off, just look at the number of Apple devices that have USB-C ... now consumers need to have accessories that support 2 different ports :(
Yes, switching ports is a pain in the rear, but maybe instead of proprietary ports go with a standard, hoping that we will never ever again see a proprietary port solution from Apple ...
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
Until USB-C becomes truly universal - as in, literally every device besides an iPhone uses it - I'm fine with this. Lightning cables are everywhere. It's still easier to insert and remove, and more durable overall (both for the port and the connection).
 
WannaGoMac said:
I still remember the mass hysteria at the switch to lightning...
Click to expand...
It's crazy to think we've now had lighting longer than 30 pin.

Although I can't imagine there'd be as much of a push back this time given that other apple devices and most other phones have switched to USB-C. I think it was more because of moving from one overpriced proprietary system to another.

I'm disappointed but not surprised. We all know why it is the way it is - proprietary is money in apple's pocket and iPhone is the biggest seller.
 
Last edited:
Suckfest 9001 said:
Well obviously, they gotta figure out how to squeeze as much money as possible and going the proprietary cable route is better for them financially. Horrid for everyone else who wants a unified home cable-wise.
Click to expand...
Given that iPhones sell on average for something maybe close to $800, how is Apple getting rich by getting a couple of bucks per third-party Lightning cable? One can get Lightning cables for about $10, the fee thus cannot be very high, or are the MFI fees a percentage of price of the product?
 
flopticalcube said:
Apple has already made half of the transition given that the cable you get with an iPhone is USB-C on one end and Lightning on the other. It will only be a matter of time unless they go portless first.
Click to expand...
It's just about lock-in. There's not really a transition to be made whether one end has a type a or type b connector. USB-C is open, they want to transition from proprietary lightning to proprietary magsafe. If they go from one to the other via a non-proprietary port, people will get a taste of freedom and get angry when they take it away
 
nanosaur said:
It's just about lock-in. USB-C is open, they want to transition from proprietary lightning to proprietary magsafe. If they go from one to the other via a non-proprietary port, people will get a taste of freedom and get angry when they take it away
Click to expand...
At least with magsafe they still support Qi. IMO, Apple will probably go portless before they go USB-C.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Icaras
Apple seems to put USB C in iPads which they expect to replace PC.
To make it easy for marketing, supporting file transfer etc..
 
mkldev said:
Here's one: About 12% of iPhone users are still using an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus. There's only one reason why so many people are still using such an old phone: the headphone jack. We want to be able to use the same set of wired headphones everywhere, whether it's with our Mac or our phone. Moving to USB-C largely solves that problem
Click to expand...
For those with headphones with a USB-C port. Doesn't help with fully analogue headphones (the only kind I have beyond wireless earbuds).
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
zorinlynx said:
I know I'll catch flak for saying this, but...

I'm glad. The lightning connector is a lot more durable than USB-C. I honestly think that this is why Apple keeps using it in their highest volume products.

We tend to plug and unplug our phones a lot to charge them, sometimes on a daily basis.

I've seen Macbooks with USB-C where the socket has worn out to such an extent the plug will fall out if you turn it sideways.

I've never seen a lightning connector wear out. At the worst it needs an occasional cleaning.

Yes, it's annoying to have a different connector than my Android friends but honestly, it's not a big deal. I almost always have a cable in my car I can use in an emergency.
Click to expand...
2 of my last 3 iPhones have had to be replaced bc the lightning port wore out. Thankfully my current phone can charge wirelessly, but I can’t use CarPlay anymore. The lightning port is awful.
 
coolfactor said:
Yes, but the consumer also wins because Apple is holding the market to a higher standard of excellence. This is quite often overlooked. If you study the Asian market, cheap and unrealible electronics are being sold left, right and centre that barely last a reasonable lifetime. Apple is fighting for the consumer and the environment by maintaining strict and high standards.
Click to expand...
Apple is also fighting for the consumer and environment by making their devices difficult, if not impossible, to repair and upgrade. Their fight against Right-To-Repair legislation is actually for our own protection because it's dangerous and Apple thinks we're too dumb to do it ourselves.

www.macrumors.com

Apple Fights Proposed Right to Repair Legislation With Warnings of Consumer Harm

Apple is fighting Right to Repair initiatives in California by telling lawmakers that consumers could hurt themselves attempting to repair their own...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos and MacSERV
nutmac said:
iPad:
  • iPad: Lightning
  • iPad mini: Lightning
  • iPad Air: USB-C
  • iPad Pro: USB-C
Everyone in my household has either iPad or Mac. All of them have USB-C connectors. Lightning and USB-C connectors are very similar and having to figure out which is which can be frustrating.
Click to expand...
Given that I have both USB A and USB C chargers, I have and that I need a charger with a USB A port due to having two different (non-Apple) proprietary to USB A charging cables, I usually travel with (1) USB A to Lightning, (2) USB-C to Lightning and (3) USB-C to USB-C cables. Additionally my power bank only has a USB-A port, meaning I often add a (4) USB A to USB-C cable as well, plus (5) and (6), the other two cables with a proprietary port on them, and last not least a (7) USB A to USB micro cable to charge my power bank.

(I probably would help my situation by using USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to USB micro adaptors as well as a USB A to USB C female adapter, but that would be replacing two cables with two adaptors.)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back