let’s talk about USB-C cables

[phenste]

posting in the iPhone forum, amidst the reality that iPhone will be adopting USB-C as soon as this year.

I’ve had an Anker USB-C cable for about four years now. bought it as a much longer (6’) alternative to the cable that came with my iPad Pro. at this point, it can barely properly connect to anything. it still reliably charges my Pro (which has been banished to the dark realm since purchasing my M2 MBP—still loving it!)—but, when plugging it into virtually anything else, the connection is extremely loose and often requires “fiddling” with the position to get it just right and deliver a charge.

what do we think? is this an issue with USB-C cables themselves, the way ports are implemented/manufactured (lol, I know it’s a standard, I’m just spitballing), or both? I’ve mentioned many a time that I can dangle my 14PM (a damn heavy phone) upside-down with a Lightning cable attached. what do we think this means for the future of iPhone?

(not that I think anyone is going to be saying “oh my god, I can’t hold my phone upside-down by a cable anymore! the HORROR!” lmfao. but I had already heard from friends with USB-C cables [and people here on MR] that the connection degrades over time. now, this has proven to be all too true for myself.)

TLDR- what are your thoughts on the reliability of USB-C connection vis-a-vis the eventual USB-C iPhone?

for once, I’m gonna shut up for the rest of this thread. I’m interested to hear the thoughts of the forum at large more than anything. 🙂

 

[macsound1]

I have low hopes on USB C. I agree that they wear out very quickly.
On a 2019 MBP with 4 ports I've used for about 16 months, you can easily feel how much looser the one I've used to charge daily is.
Doesn't bode well for an iPhone with only one port.

 

[PhoenixDown]

I've had a lot of issues with the lightening port on the iphones failing after a few years. I can't speak to USB-C cables or connectors.

 

[Motionblurrr]

USB-C is going to wear out much quicker, unless Apple reinforces that middle island area unlike other USB-C ports. That stupid little island in the middle is the cause of the wear.

On the lightning port, like a big percentage of issues with the port was just dust and grime accumulating in it. Usually cleaning it out with a wooden toothpick and brush fixes it right up. It is a wear item though and will eventually wear out like any other port.

USB-C is going to feel less premium because it doesn't have that springy tight 'click' when you plug it in like Lightning.

 

[iStorm]

Plugging in a USB-C cable into my iPad Pro or Nintendo Switch has a nice satisfying click and can even hang them upside down from the cable. However, the same cable feels loose in my MBP and sometimes gets disconnected if bumped.

Out of all my devices with a USB-C port (MBP, iPad Pro, Nintendo Switch, GoPros, dog collar & remote, battery bank, and wall chargers), my MBP is the only thing that doesn’t have the satisfying click anymore…which didn’t last long to begin with. At least in my experience, it seems that the port wears out and/or the port has lower quality materials.

 

[Basic75]

What are your thoughts on the reliability of USB-C connection vis-a-vis the eventual USB-C iPhone?

I am not concerned.

 

[Basic75]

Usually cleaning it out with a wooden toothpick

A toothpick? What kind of dirt do you have? I get by with one of these small manual air blower things. https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Cleaning-Instruments-Keyboards-Telescope/dp/B07Y1TKXVK

 

[macsound1]

A toothpick? What kind of dirt do you have? I get by with one of these small manual air blower things. https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Cleaning-Instruments-Keyboards-Telescope/dp/B07Y1TKXVK

Honestly I usually use a safety pin or something.
The reason why is that the pocket lint get compressed over weeks of plugging the charger in so it becomes a solid block of fuzz. I need something strong enough to dislodge it, where your air thing might work. But if I just used air from the start, nothing much would happen.

 

[Kaotic]

I’ve had USB C devices for years (iPad Air, MacBook Pro, Pixel phones, various accessories etc) and the only one that has developed the loose connection feel is the MacBook - and it’s only one specific port. I’m not too concerned about it when it eventually comes to iPhone.