First third-party USB-C to Lightning cable is the Belkin BoostCharge

AppleInsider

Belkin has introduced a collection of BoostCharge cables for connecting devices requiring power to chargers and power banks, with the series featuring the first third-party USB-C to Lightning cable that has been approved by Apple.

Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to Lightning charging cable

The BoostCharge USB-C to Lightning cables, arriving along with more conventional variants for USB-A to USB-C and USB-A to Lightning, is a notable release as the first of its kind. Previously, the only official USB-C to Lightning cable was produced by Apple, which did not previously allow any third-party accessory vendors to create their own, a stance that the iPhone maker has since changed.

Apple started warning manufacturers about the change in September, before offering specific Lightning connector components up for preorder in December. Belkin is the first to have taken advantage of the components, but is likely to be followed by other firms keen to capture a piece of a relatively one-sided market.

The BoostCharge cables are offered in 4-foot, 6-foot, and 10-foot lengths, and are designed for maximum durability and strength using a material called DuraTek. Accompanying each of the speckled cables is a leather strap, to help keep cables looped and prevent tangling while stowed away.

Arriving this Spring, the cables will start from $24.99 rising to $34.99, depending on length.

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racerhomie3

Good news !

MplsP

racerhomie3 said:

Good news !

At first blush, yes, but when I think about it, I come up with ‘why?’

since virtually everyone has a usb c-a dongle for their MacBook, of what practical use are these?

fastasleep

MplsP said:

racerhomie3 said:

Good news !

At first blush, yes, but when I think about it, I come up with ‘why?’

since virtually everyone has a usb c-a dongle for their MacBook, of what practical use are these?

Practical use is a direct connection to USB-C without a dongle. Is that so hard to imagine?

MplsP

fastasleep said:

MplsP said:

racerhomie3 said:

Good news !

At first blush, yes, but when I think about it, I come up with ‘why?’

since virtually everyone has a usb c-a dongle for their MacBook, of what practical use are these?

Practical use is a direct connection to USB-C without a dongle. Is that so hard to imagine?

Except that every other place you charge your phone you need a lightning - USB A cable, so either you carry 2 single purpose cables, or you use the usb A cable that you already have and the usb C-A dongle that you likely already have and can use with other devices as well. 

It’s not that I can’t imagine a use for the cable, it’s that when I consider the real world scenarios, the actual usefulness largely disappears. I freely admit that this may change in the future, but for now I stand by my original opinion - for the majority of people, this is simply replacing a multi-use dongle with a single use one. 

Edit - if Apple would switch iPhones to USB C instead of lightning, then you could use a strainght USB C-C cable

fastasleep

MplsP said:

fastasleep said:

MplsP said:

racerhomie3 said:

Good news !

At first blush, yes, but when I think about it, I come up with ‘why?’

since virtually everyone has a usb c-a dongle for their MacBook, of what practical use are these?

Practical use is a direct connection to USB-C without a dongle. Is that so hard to imagine?

Except that every other place you charge your phone you need a lightning - USB A cable, so either you carry 2 single purpose cables, or you use the usb A cable that you already have and the usb C-A dongle that you likely already have and can use with other devices as well. 

It’s not that I can’t imagine a use for the cable, it’s that when I consider the real world scenarios, the actual usefulness largely disappears. I freely admit that this may change in the future, but for now I stand by my original opinion - for the majority of people, this is simply replacing a multi-use dongle with a single use one. 

Edit - if Apple would switch iPhones to USB C instead of lightning, then you could use a strainght USB C-C cable

Many people don't use random USB-A ports and are actively moving to all USB-C cables, perhaps purchasing the 30W USB-C Apple charger as well or sharing a charger with their MacBook. You don't have to, but claiming that there's no practical use here for people who are making the effort to move away from USB-A is silly. You don't have to use it.

crowley

I'm not going to bother.  My existing cables should last me through to the next upgrade cycle, when I'm fairly confident that Lightning will be dropped.

MplsP

fastasleep said:

MplsP said:

fastasleep said:

MplsP said:

racerhomie3 said:

Good news !

At first blush, yes, but when I think about it, I come up with ‘why?’

since virtually everyone has a usb c-a dongle for their MacBook, of what practical use are these?

Practical use is a direct connection to USB-C without a dongle. Is that so hard to imagine?

Except that every other place you charge your phone you need a lightning - USB A cable, so either you carry 2 single purpose cables, or you use the usb A cable that you already have and the usb C-A dongle that you likely already have and can use with other devices as well. 

It’s not that I can’t imagine a use for the cable, it’s that when I consider the real world scenarios, the actual usefulness largely disappears. I freely admit that this may change in the future, but for now I stand by my original opinion - for the majority of people, this is simply replacing a multi-use dongle with a single use one. 

Edit - if Apple would switch iPhones to USB C instead of lightning, then you could use a strainght USB C-C cable

Many people don't use random USB-A ports and are actively moving to all USB-C cables, perhaps purchasing the 30W USB-C Apple charger as well or sharing a charger with their MacBook. You don't have to, but claiming that there's no practical use here for people who are making the effort to move away from USB-A is silly. You don't have to use it.

I did not ignore the MacBook scenario, rather pointed out that most people will already have a USB C-A dongle, so the straight cable gives them little in this scenario and have the drawback of not being compatible with the majority of other ports out there.  

Even if you don't use random USB ports, USB C chargers are still difficult to find and there is little benefit to USB C. You can pay $50 for a 30W USB charger (plus another $20 for the cable) but it only takes 20 minutes off the charging time, so there's little practical benefit beyond the 12W charger that comes with iPads or cay be bought for $20. 

I know some people are making the effort to move away from USB A, and that's fine. If they want to spend a bunch of money on extra cables, charging bricks, etc, good for them. My point is that there is little practical benefit to doing so in the majority of cases and I find it interesting that people are willing to put significant effort and money to move to USB C when there is so little actual benefit.

mikal

Definitely not the first. Check amazon. There’s loads. Got a few myself right after I got the new iPad Pro in November. Is it the first MFi certified? Is that what was meant?

riclf

fastasleep said:

MplsP said:

racerhomie3 said:

Good news !

At first blush, yes, but when I think about it, I come up with ‘why?’

since virtually everyone has a usb c-a dongle for their MacBook, of what practical use are these?

Practical use is a direct connection to USB-C without a dongle. Is that so hard to imagine?

Well, 25 to 35 bucks to escape the dongle I have... yea, hard to imagine.