MacRumors Readers Hoping for USB-C Instead of Lightning in 2019 iPhones

[ghostface147]

Not for me at this moment. I'll probably pass on this cycle again. If my iPhone X holds out without significant iOS speed slowdowns, and after battery replacement, I'll get on the 2021 cycle. I'm not an S model type of buyer.

 

[taptic]

USB-C is a bad design that connects around a center flat pin, which can break or clog with dust easily. Good luck.

Tell that to the newest MacBook Pros.

Of all the things to have just USB-C on... man Apple's weird.

 

[341328]

The Poll needed a "don't care" option.

 

[mmomega]

Don't care either way personally.

 

[jbc25]

People who read tech forums like this one understand the benefits of USB and are willing to buy new cables and all that to make the switch, but you have to remember that the majority of normal humans absolutely do not understand or care about the differences between lightning vs USB-C, and would see this only as a greedy cash grab by Apple. In many customers minds, we JUST finished switching from the original dock connector to lightning. Even though I would like to see it myself, it would be a very unpopular move for Apple right now.

 

[sracer]

Why would anyone want a proprietary lightning port when there's an industry standard port that does the job just as well?

Do you know for a fact that Apple will use the open standard version of USB-C? The USB consortium recently approved a move to provide for DRM-like restrictions. This would allow Apple to require Apple-approved USB-C cables rather than open standard cables.

 

[jonblatho]

USB-C is a bad design that connects around a center flat pin, which can break or clog with dust easily.

Can you cite a source indicating that USB-C ports have major issues with the center pin breaking off? Because I've never heard of that.

 

[ericinboston]

To be honest, as a techie and consumer, I don't get the allure of USB-C as a connector for iPhones.

1. We've been using Lightning for years and numerous iPhone versions...so what's wrong with Lightning?
2. What will USB-C on iPhone actually IMPROVE for the average consumer?
3. What will USB-C on iPhone actually IMPROVE for the average techie?
4. Every iOS device (except iPad Pro I think) transfers at USB 2.0 speeds. Those are the dark ages. It really drives me nuts when I want to transfer a few hundred 320K mp3 files to my iPhone and it takes 15+ minutes. In 2019. If USB-C connectivity promised USB 3.0 speeds with syncing to iTunes, that would be a positive in my book. But that's only 1 positive so far.
   
5. Going back to #1, unless there is a compelling reason to change, it's just going to annoy consumers AGAIN that they have to toss all their expensive Lightning cables/plugs/accessories when they buy a new $1000 phone and REPLACE all those accessories with lots of cash. Honestly, this would be a very large part of my decision-making process and I'm sure a large percent of others, too. And no, I'm not buying a dozen $29 "adapters" for my various cars, wall outlets, charging ports, portable radios, etc.

 

[cppguy]

USB C is a really crappy design, so fragile... Nah, I prefer lightning by far.

Quite the contrary. Lightning cable fray easily, and they're super expensive to replace. USB-C is superior by far. Yes, lightning is better than Micro-USB was, but no one uses that connector anymore. USB-C is the ubiquitous standard, it dominates the industry. We all use USB-C for every camera, laptop and phone, except the iPhone, which stands out like a sore thumb. Having to pack a separate charger just for the phone is ridiculous. Everyone who says otherwise is ignorant.

 

[metalsiren]

my MBP is USB C my IPP is USB C, using a normal USB to lighting is a PIA right now for me. so I want them all USB-C

 

[Apple_Robert]

USB-C would be good for me. Time for Apple to ditch the 5w power brick.

 

[BuddyTronic]

USB-C is a bad design that connects around a center flat pin, which can break or clog with dust easily. Good luck.

But lightning pins turn black and fail to function because they spark from lint and other debris in the socket.

So which is better? I think it’s USB-C

 

[Bornee35]

The results from facebook should be discarded, since they willingly use facebook their opinion is moot.

 

[BuddyTronic]

Would love to see the 900M iPhone users poll on if they care or even know about usb-c.

Not sure on the confidence interval or “p” value on this, but maybe the sample size is big enough? I disliked buying $500 worth of lightning cords in the last 3 or 4 years, but I really did.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I have a Android USB C phone for Work and it is nice to have it compatible with my Macbook Pro more than the iPhone XS.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

What a useless survey.

 

[SecuritySteve]

I don't care.

It's not like I had to get an expensive USB-C to Lightning cable to fast charge my iPad and iPhone last year anyway using my MBP brick.

And not like I need a USB-A cable (which I'm sure Apple won't make) to plug the goddamn thing into my VW to use CarPlay.

And not like I will need a spare cable of whatever it is to leave at work (and a new USB-C brick to go?)

I hate my ****ing goddamn ****** life. I'm a slave

You sir, need to chill out.

Also, you said you don't care, yet ranted angrily about it. I do not believe that means what you think it means.

 

[Wombat-man]

A lot of people seem very confused about whether the current cable is "lighting", "lightening", or "lightning"...
That could be one advantage in favor of going to USB C! 🙂

 

[mdriftmeyer]

I think the lightning plug is technically better. It is smaller yet plenty sturdy. But USB C is the future. Let’s just get there already. The next step after USB C will be pure wireless.

USB-C isn't the future. It's just another stop gap before a different interface arrives, and hopefully not in serial form.

 

[Anarchy99]

i want thunderbolt 3

 

[femike]

I prefer the lightning connector, because I prefer the connector's design. Also I don't have any USB-C stuff 🙂 Also the USB-C spec and are a mess at the moment.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

You sir, need to chill out.

Also, you said you don't care, yet ranted angrily about it. I do not believe that means what you think it means.

There may or may not have been some sarcasm in me saying I don't care.

 

[CTHarrryH]

I care about the other end of the cable a lot more than what plugs into phone. Cars, airplanes, hotels, people's homes have the USB-A connectors. So again we will be having to use connector cables which will negate the advantages of C.
The gym I go to still has the old 30 pin cables so you can plug your device in - Of course I still have a couple of those.
There isn't a good answer.

 

[pika2000]

No reason for USB-C on the iPhone itself. What people want is rather the included cable and power adapter to have USB-C instead of USB-A so the iPhone can work with all the latest MacBooks out of the box.

So yes, USB-C should replace USB-A side, but there’s no rhyme nor reason why it should replace lightning. USB-C as a standard is a mess. Take USB-C audio, there’s a huge compatibility problem on USB-C headphones on Android to the point that some Android OEMs are reverting back to 3.5mm jack. Why do we want that? Lightning is more straightforward and already have an existing ecosystem. Plus USB-C is much larger than lightning, which makes no sense in a small device like iPhone.

So yes to USB-C replacing USB-A (long overdue), but no to USB-C replacing lightning.

Oh, and I have yet to break a lightning cable, even the original one that came with my iPhone 5 is still good. Not sure how people treat their cables that they have to replace it constantly.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

A lot of people seem very confused about whether the current cable is "lighting", "lightening", or "lightning"...
That could be one advantage in favor of going to USB C! 🙂

I'd very much like a Lightening cable.
Imagine an Enlightening cable?