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dj1891

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 16, 2015
641
343
Northern Ireland
Was thinking about this today after my cable died and had to go find another. Apple's decision not to include charging bricks anymore, mainly as everyone's house is coming down with charging bricks, I know I have a drawer full from various phones, so they just include a cable now, yet they include USB C to Lightening, now I don't know about you but I don't have any wall bricks that are usb c, as a result the included charging cable was thrown in the drawer probably never see the light of day again. What was the thinking behind including usb C rather than usb a?
 
To future proof. Most modern computers and devices are now increasingly including USB C over USB A ports. Especially as Apple‘s own iMacs and MacBooks don’t feature the USB A port at all (as far as I’m aware)
 
To future proof. Most modern computers and devices are now increasingly including USB C over USB A ports. Especially as Apple‘s own iMacs and MacBooks don’t feature the USB A port at all (as far as I’m aware)
I know at work we have a drawer of these cables now as when they handed out the iPhone 12's no one had the wall charger for this cable. I wonder how many others do not have a wall charger for this cable? Quite a few I bet.
 
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I have at least 6 USB-A to lightning cables but only two USB-C to lightning and I got the second very recently with the purchase of the new magic keyboard with touchId. All of my wall chargers are USB-C. I haven’t gotten a USB-A charger in quite a while.

Basically, everything will be USB-C fairly soon so why not get yourself a USB-C charger. They aren’t particularly expensive. About $10 on Amazon.
 
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I have at least 6 USB-A to lightning cables but only two USB-C to lightning and I got the second very recently either purchase if the new magic keyboard with touchId. All of my wall chargers are USB-C. I haven’t gotten a USB-A charger in quite a while.

Basically, everything will be USB-C fairly soon so why not get yourself a USB-C charger. They aren’t particularly expensive. About $10 on Amazon.
It was more the point of the thing, Apple is all about being green and eco friendly, load of rubbish, it was just an excuse to save money. had they included the USB A to Lightening then yes. I use wireless charging anyway.
 
It was more the point of the thing, Apple is all about being green and eco friendly, load of rubbish, it was just an excuse to save money. had they included the USB A to Lightening then yes. I use wireless charging anyway.
Again. For me another USB-A to lightning would be e-waste but a USB-C cable is useful. Everything is moving to USB-C so delivering more USB-A cables is bad for the environment and it will continue to become more so over time.
 
To future proof. Most modern computers and devices are now increasingly including USB C over USB A ports. Especially as Apple‘s own iMacs and MacBooks don’t feature the USB A port at all (as far as I’m aware)

This, plus you can draw fewer watts through usb-a connectors than usb-c ones. As their phones (18W and 20W) and particularly iPads get more power hungry you're nudged towards usb-c to charge at what most people has come to consider 'normal' speed.
 
This, plus you can draw fewer watts through usb-a connectors than usb-c ones. As their phones (18W and 20W) and particularly iPads get more power hungry you're nudged towards usb-c to charge at what most people has come to consider 'normal' speed.
I have a realme 7 pro android phone, 65w dart charging, it comes with USB A to USB C, flat to full in 30 mins on a 4000mah battery, As does my Kindle Fire HD which also uses fast charging.
 
I have a realme 7 pro android phone, 65w dart charging, it comes with USB A to USB C, flat to full in 30 mins on a 4000mah battery, As does my Kindle Fire HD which also uses fast charging.

The Realme is uses proprietary Dart tech which negates the native limitations of USB A. There are too many iPhones and people are too used to charging them with 'any old brick' for such a solution to be positive on the iPhone. Not to meantion people would expect iPad bricks to work just as well with their iPhones. The better solution is to use the widely available and open USB-C connectors.

Even recent MacBooks have moved in this direction, putting a usb-c on the power adaptor so you no longer have to replace the whole thing if the cable get frayed.

From memory, Kindle Fire HDs comes with a 9W charger like Apple's sub 12W products do. The 'Fast charging' description is to differentiate from their old 5W ones. And of course the recent models can charge faster again with a 3rd party charger through the USB-C port.
 
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Charge cables typically don't last very long (any of them) so it makes sense to include a new charge cable in the box with a new iPhone.
The recommended charger brick to use with the new iPhones is a 20 watt charger - and it has a USB-C port. So that's why the cable is USB-C.

In the past, the dinky 5 watt charger was included in the box with every new iPhone because it was ridiculously cheap to make and very small. The proper charger to now use with the newest iPhone is 20 watts which is a lot bigger (doesn't fit in the box) and more expensive to make.

Batteries for just about everything rarely are sold with an included charger - the batteries and chargers are always sold individually. iPhone in the past was an exception to this but now it's more in line with the rest of the battery world.
 
It was more the point of the thing, Apple is all about being green and eco friendly, load of rubbish, it was just an excuse to save money. had they included the USB A to Lightening then yes. I use wireless charging anyway.
You think it's cheaper to make than the USB-A cable? I don't know about the Apple branded one but where I am most of the Belkin or Anker ones seem to be more expensive in the USB-C to Lightning format.

They included it because why include something already outdated with a brand new phone. If they included a USB-A cable there would be a dozen posts on here asking why would Apple do such a thing. The USB-C cable fits the Apple wall brick used since the iPhone 11 and also connects with Macs. Many Macs do not have the older USB-A port. If Apple were to put the older style cable I would just consider it e-waste. That's exactly what I thought when I bought a brand new pair of AirPods and found that old style cable in the box. It's still sitting with the paper around it in my box full of old cables.
 
You think it's cheaper to make than the USB-A cable? I don't know about the Apple branded one but where I am most of the Belkin or Anker ones seem to be more expensive in the USB-C to Lightning format.

They included it because why include something already outdated with a brand new phone. If they included a USB-A cable there would be a dozen posts on here asking why would Apple do such a thing. The USB-C cable fits the Apple wall brick used since the iPhone 11 and also connects with Macs. Many Macs do not have the older USB-A port. If Apple were to put the older style cable I would just consider it e-waste. That's exactly what I thought when I bought a brand new pair of AirPods and found that old style cable in the box. It's still sitting with the paper around it in my box full of old cables.
In the UK at least the wall brick included with the iPhone 11 was USB A, obviously that then got removed when the 12 dropped. Maybe if you're in the Apple eco system this all maybe a none issue but if the phone is the only Apple device you own you are in trouble because as I say none of all the old chargers you may have gathered up over the years are USB C
 
In the UK at least the wall brick included with the iPhone 11 was USB A, obviously that then got removed when the 12 dropped. Maybe if you're in the Apple eco system this all maybe a none issue but if the phone is the only Apple device you own you are in trouble because as I say none of all the old chargers you may have gathered up over the years are USB C
Or you go to Amazon and buy a USB-C charger. Or use the cable that came with your previous iPhone.
 
Was thinking about this today after my cable died and had to go find another. Apple's decision not to include charging bricks anymore, mainly as everyone's house is coming down with charging bricks, I know I have a drawer full from various phones, so they just include a cable now, yet they include USB C to Lightening, now I don't know about you but I don't have any wall bricks that are usb c, as a result the included charging cable was thrown in the drawer probably never see the light of day again. What was the thinking behind including usb C rather than usb a?
It's obvious, to nudge people buying new power adapters with USB-C. Or to buy the USB-A version of lightning cables. It's the new Apple, anything to make a buck here and there.

OTOH, if you're a mac user, this will be a good thing as most newer Macs are USB-C only.
 
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I have an outlet by my fireplace mantle I replaced with a dual usb A charging outlet. Very convenient place to charge Phones and iPads. When we got the new iPad Air I thought it was time to update to usb C as that how they charge so I replaced with one that has one usb A and one usb C. This was a mistake. We have micro usb, lighting and usb C devices to charge and if you want to charge two devices that use the same port at the same time you need one that’s usb a and one that’s usb C. Sure, I have six cables that will accomplish that, but I don’t want them all lying around. Usb C is also easier to plug in as it can’t be upside down. I’ll be replacing again with a dual usb C and really can’t wait until usb A just goes away.
 
To future proof. Most modern computers and devices are now increasingly including USB C over USB A ports. Especially as Apple‘s own iMacs and MacBooks don’t feature the USB A port at all (as far as I’m aware)
Yes, USB-C over USB-A, except for the AirPods Max headphones :rolleyes:. I too have so many cables from so many brands of devices. Not to mention power bricks.
 
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When Apple dropped including the bricks they said it was because everyone had a ton of them - true but then the cables they now include can't use the tons we have. Making us buy more eh?
I understand the USB-C becoming more standard but those ports don't really exist most places that have ports - cars (but some are coming), airplanes, airports, gyms, cruise ships and people with home wall ports.
Fortunately, you can still use your old cables and bricks with even new cars.
Wonder how much money Apple made this last year on USB-C bricks
 
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To future proof. Most modern computers and devices are now increasingly including USB C over USB A ports. Especially as Apple‘s own iMacs and MacBooks don’t feature the USB A port at all (as far as I’m aware)
but Apple's excuse for not including the brick was that everyone should have plenty by now. The bricks they have been including in the box for the last 10 years is USB A.
 
but Apple's excuse for not including the brick was that everyone should have plenty by now. The bricks they have been including in the box for the last 10 years is USB A.
Not only do most of us have plenty of USB A bricks, but also plenty of cables that go with it. With that in mind, the USB C to lighting is by far the better choice in my opinion. It gives me an option to be able to use my iPad Pro charger for phone, or use my MacBook pro, which only has had usb c ports for years now. Truth be told I would be more annoyed if I had to buy a usb-c to lightning cable to be able to use any of the 18+w bricks that came with other apple products that I already own.
 
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Whenever there is a transition to a new standard, even if it’s clearly better, it’s always a rocky ordeal. Companies have to choose when and how to implement the transition. Too soon and most people will be frustrated that they’re being forced to spend money to adapt to a new standard; too late and most will be frustrated that they’re being forced to spend money on a soon-to-be outdated standard. Even if they time it right in the middle to minimize frustration, there will always be frustrated customers on both sides, because there is such a range of people. It’s unavoidable.

What adds more fuel to the frustration is the timing of Apple’s and now the wider industry’s concurrent decision to stop including a charging brick. Had they either continued including the brick until usb C became more ubiquitous, or stopped including the brick earlier and continued including usb A cables until people got used to the idea of not getting the brick before making the switch to usb C, we would be experiencing a smoother transition in this moment. By dropping the brick and making the switch to usb C at the same time, it is causing confusion and double frustration for the people not yet able or willing to make the transition.
 
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Not only do most of us have plenty of USB A bricks, but also plenty of cables that go with it. With that in mind, the USB C to lighting is by far the better choice in my opinion. It gives me an option to be able to use my iPad Pro charger for phone, or use my MacBook pro, which only has had usb c ports for years now. Truth be told I would be more annoyed if I had to buy a usb-c to lightning cable to be able to use any of the 18+w bricks that came with other apple products that I already own.
Apple should include USB C brick in 50% of the iPhones.
And USB C cable in 50% of the iPhones manufactured.
People can trade, swap, buy, or sell.
Amazing idea....
 
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In the UK at least the wall brick included with the iPhone 11 was USB A, obviously that then got removed when the 12 dropped. Maybe if you're in the Apple eco system this all maybe a none issue but if the phone is the only Apple device you own you are in trouble because as I say none of all the old chargers you may have gathered up over the years are USB C
True if it’s your first iPhone I can see it being a problem.
 
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When Apple dropped including the bricks they said it was because everyone had a ton of them - true but then the cables they now include can't use the tons we have. Making us buy more eh?
I understand the USB-C becoming more standard but those ports don't really exist most places that have ports - cars (but some are coming), airplanes, airports, gyms, cruise ships and people with home wall ports.
Fortunately, you can still use your old cables and bricks with even new cars.
Wonder how much money Apple made this last year on USB-C bricks
Yes, this was the point I was trying to make but it went over the heads of the die-hards in here.
 
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