Flashback: the Lightning connector was ahead of its time but is now obsolete

15 January 2023
The first devices with Lightning arrived several years before USB-C hit the scene - modern, sleek, reversible. But now it's almost time to say goodbye.

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  • 15 Jan 2023

Almand, 15 Jan 2023No they didn't It's all part of a bigger plan to... moreWireless can be affected by external factors out of your control (eg interference from other radio waves, like those coming from the Sun).

Wired will always be better just by the due fact of an actual physical connection. Sure, wireless is usually more convenient, but thats all it has going on for it.

    • D
    • David
    • 3HZ
    • 15 Jan 2023

    The Lightning connector is inferior to USB-C in every way. It's easier to break being thinner, the contacts are exposed so it gets dirty easy, it's slower and the worst thing is the pins are on the device rather than on the cable like with USB-C. If you bend a pin on a cable, no problem just change it. If you bend a pin in an iPhone port its a very costly repair.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • nDy
      • 15 Jan 2023

      potato4k, 15 Jan 2023Apple doesn't become trillion dollar company from bein... moresame thing with every other company, water is wet

        potato4k, 15 Jan 2023Lightning is not obsolete. It did support faster transfer s... moreIf So True, Why Do Some Apple Product As Usb C?

          potato4k, 15 Jan 2023As shown in the article, lightning already supports USB3 sp... moreOh I knew that. That's why I specifically avoided mentioning iPads when talking about how Apple nerfed the speed in only their iPhones that could really benefit from it. Even then, the iPads already have Type C with USB 3.1 speeds minimum (not including the 10th or older gen).

            Cyberchum, 15 Jan 2023"There are adapters, of course, but those are never id... moreApple doesn't become trillion dollar company from being nice. They're profit oriented, even moreso under Cook. Everything Apple does is to make more money, no matter what story they tell

              Qimchi, 15 Jan 2023Type C is the one port that can replace many other ports. A... moreAs shown in the article, lightning already supports USB3 speed. The fact iphones are still USB2 is Apple being intentional in nerfing lightning.

                • b
                • blue
                • SXw
                • 15 Jan 2023

                Syphon, 15 Jan 2023Meaning, If not deployed USBc they ll send euro-fighter typ... moreWhat the hell?

                  • r
                  • racerhomie
                  • XUD
                  • 15 Jan 2023

                  Anonymous, 15 Jan 2023USB-C is better of course. That's why EU chose it over... moreApple literally made USB C along with Alphabet. Why would they care about this? For a few million lightning generates? Its mostly people hate change like this

                    • G
                    • GOD
                    • mE0
                    • 15 Jan 2023

                    Lightning connector is better than usb-c . The same way Beta max video ws better than VHS . That turned out the same . If you think about it there all terrible ! A hole to get filled with lint & hair and junk & dirt ! & it then stops working :/

                      • M
                      • Minu
                      • ter
                      • 15 Jan 2023

                      Qimchi, 15 Jan 2023Type C is the one port that can replace many other ports. A... moreI think that's what iPhones are supposed to be. Algorithmic devices with limitations that interfere with practicality

                        • M
                        • Minu
                        • ter
                        • 15 Jan 2023

                        NeonHD, 15 Jan 2023I'll say it, the lightning port looks cuter than USB C... moreI love it, and definitely prefer it over USB C. Shame that it's only for Apple products

                          potato4k, 15 Jan 2023Lightning supports USB-PD charging. That’s how recent iPhon... moreType C is the one port that can replace many other ports. Audio, video, power and data. At speeds and wattage that seems to keep improving far better than whatever Lightning port has achieved to the point the only Apple devices that still uses a Lightning port is the , Airpods, iPhone and Magic Mouse. It doesn't have dust problems and it seems to be more durable based on the fact that there's not nearly as much people complaining about Type C despite being more widely available.

                          Odd how the iPhone 13 and 14 Pro can shoot ProRes video up to 4K at 30fps but only transfer files at USB 2.0 speeds.

                            I'll say it, the lightning port looks cuter than USB C ports lol. I guess because it's just slightly smaller and slimmer. It's a shame they don't improve on it.

                              ALU to Cache, 15 Jan 2023Lighting doesn't support no where near transfer rate a... moreLightning supports USB-PD charging. That’s how recent iPhones get fast charging.
                              Lightning supports USB3 transfer speed, as mentioned in the article. It’s up to Apple to allow it.

                              Now go troll somewhere else.

                                Anonymous, 15 Jan 2023No it’s not obsolete it’s just not universal. Technology-wi... moreYou started with an air of assuredness ("technology-wise, it’s still better than USB-C"), but ended with a sense of uncertainty (arguably even better than USB-C).

                                Well, I agree with the scratching and cleaning points, but even those, alongside virtually every point you made, are practically about the design of the tech, not the actual tech. Design-wise, I fancy lightning more, because it's a male connector, but I've actually heard of more broken lightning plugs than Type C ones, despite Type C being more commonly available.

                                  Thanks Peter for the article.
                                  I've basically said this earlier in another comment:
                                  https://www.gsmarena.com/newscomm-57093p3.php

                                  The area where Apple shot themselves in the foot, was by sticking to a low standard (USB-2.0 and 10W charging) instead of a more modern standard (USB 3.0 and 30W charging). The somewhat infuriating part is that the USB Consortium made the same mistake, but a couple years later and with a worse connector, which is the USB-C.

                                  The good part about TypeC is that it has evolved, and supports cutting-edge features.
                                  The bad part is that is a tiny minority (1%), whilst a small minority (10%) offer a decent/modern options, however the sea of electronics out there is using the base-standard description... so they're no better than Apple's Lightning port. Most OEMs are pushing for Wireless Options, because it gives them greater control and profit motives.

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-1058210
                                    • 39y
                                    • 15 Jan 2023

                                    "The only Lightning accessory that supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds"
                                    GArena get facts it was only one modelvof ipad which had usb 3 support but never ever usb 3.2 but usb 3 only ..and it was sketchy anyway nobody never used it because it worked only with ipad and only with that cable total waste and pointless

                                      Hyped, 15 Jan 2023Android user myself, but... I've given my grandmother... moreSure it's easier to screw up an Android phone or Windows as it requires some thought to operate, not to mention they're a lot more free and flexible ecosystems. While Apple restricts you to do(screw up) anything.

                                      I don't argue that IOS is easier for elderly people to operate but I obviously didn't mean them in my og post, but young ones. Especially women

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • KAS
                                        • 15 Jan 2023

                                        Hyped, 15 Jan 2023Android user myself, but... I've given my grandmother... moreYou're right because iPhone has special emphasis on ease of use and that's why it's quite popular with tech clueless people that need something that as they say "just works"

                                        But since I'm not 73 yet and don't require the constant spoon feeding of that updates cereal, I'll stick to Android

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