Apple should keep Lightning for now, but USB-A has to die
USB-C is slowly, but surely, replacing all the cables in our lives and is trying to be the ubiquitous solution to power all our gadgets. The one holdback before the format can accomplish this task, is insistence on maintaining the USB-A connector, and our old friend, Apple's Lightning cable. One of them has to go, and it isn't Lightning.
iPhone charging methods
For years, computer owners have relegated to toting around a snake's nest of cables. Micro USB, MagSafe, Lightning, USB-C, and Thunderbolt are most recently populating my personal tech bag. I've yearned for the day when I can almost entirely wipe out that pile for a more simplistic solution. Hence, USB-C.
When I take stock of my usual gear, all USB-C is tantalizingly close. Here is my usual lineup of gear that gets used on a near-daily basis.
Apple Watch USB-C charging puck
Taking stock of these devices over the past year or so, nearly every item on the list has found USB-C. For a while, the Apple Watch was the holdout, but years after the portable Macs went all-in on USB-C, it too recently made the jump with the updated magnetic puck -- that still isn't included in the box).
Even the iPad Pro has moved to USB-C as Apple markets it more as a computer replacement.
First, the branding itself. As Type-C is just what the connector is called, we see many different utilizations. On some machines -- such as the Mac mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iMac Pro -- it is a Thunderbolt 3 port that has the same Type-C connector. Others, it is solely USB 3.1.
On some, you have a USB-C port that only has specific purposes. For instance, the Mavic Air has a USB-C port for data transfer but not charging. These aren't simple growing pains, unfortunately, and will require an industry-wide push to solve overall.
Quality also pops into play. There have been issues with subpar USB-C cables making their way across Amazon that didn't meet the actual specs of a proper cable and could damage your gear while charging. Apple's tight reign on Lightning and MagSafe alleviated these fears for Apple users for the longest time.
Despite all of this, USB-C is here to stay and with Apple driving the push, it should only get better.
Lightning to USB-C
I want the latter. I want third-party USB-C to Lightning cables until the shift is complete. I've long maintained that Apple should stick with Lightning as the port on their devices. Lightning can't go away soon with iPhone battery cases, Mac peripherals, the Apple TV Siri remote, third-party microphones, third-party cameras, and much more all use this port.
As my esteemed colleague William points out, this is expected and while painful in the short term, will pay off over time. But, to counter William, while that pain would be expected, it doesn't have to be that way.
Charging over Lightning
What devices plug into your iPhone? Clearly a charging cable, but otherwise there are a lot of niche accessories that are specifically made for iOS devices. FLIR thermal camera, Moment's battery case, or hard-wired backup solutions. These products, all have to go through Apple's certification process specifically to work with iOS, so switching to USB-C wouldn't change anything as they exclusively work with those devices. It's not as if because iPhone is USB-C you would plug the iXpand Base or FLIR camera into your Mac.
That leaves charging as the biggest reason to switch to USB-C, and I do think it is a nice thought to have the same cable to charge all my gear.
Looking to a wireless future, which Apple already seems to want, iPhones aren't going to be about the cable but about wireless technology. Unless something revolutionary happens in this regard, though, Apple should stick with Lightning until wireless charging has taken over enough that the port simply doesn't matter.
Why force everyone to go through the painful process of ditching all their Lightning cables, swapping any physical accessories that use Lightning, ditching battery cases, all for the sake of a charging cable we are moving away from?
Apple has clearly prioritized wireless in recent years as they've stripped back the number of ports, focused on wireless earbuds and headphones, introduced wireless CarPlay, dropped prices on iCloud storage, are still likely bringing a wireless charging case to AirPods, and have now brought wireless charging to all of the new iPhones released over the last two model years.
USB-C and Lightning cables
Accessory makers like Nomad, Belkin, Anker, Native Union are all comping at the bit to make new USB-C Lightning cables. As a bonus, all of these new cables would still bring in a boatload of licensing revenue for Apple (because they totally need it).
If Apple would open this up, as has been rumored, I'd finally be able to go all-in on USB-C. My wall chargers could power all my gear over USB-C which is one of the largest headaches at the moment.
The good news is, change is on the horizon.
iPhone charging methods
For years, computer owners have relegated to toting around a snake's nest of cables. Micro USB, MagSafe, Lightning, USB-C, and Thunderbolt are most recently populating my personal tech bag. I've yearned for the day when I can almost entirely wipe out that pile for a more simplistic solution. Hence, USB-C.
When I take stock of my usual gear, all USB-C is tantalizingly close. Here is my usual lineup of gear that gets used on a near-daily basis.
- Display
- iPhone
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- Hard Drives
- DSLR
- GoPro
- Battery
- MacBook Pro
- Portable charger
Apple Watch USB-C charging puck
Taking stock of these devices over the past year or so, nearly every item on the list has found USB-C. For a while, the Apple Watch was the holdout, but years after the portable Macs went all-in on USB-C, it too recently made the jump with the updated magnetic puck -- that still isn't included in the box).
Even the iPad Pro has moved to USB-C as Apple markets it more as a computer replacement.
USB-C has its problems
USB-C isn't perfect by any means. There is a laundry list of issues to plow through, most of which is situated well beyond the technical scope of your average consumer.First, the branding itself. As Type-C is just what the connector is called, we see many different utilizations. On some machines -- such as the Mac mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iMac Pro -- it is a Thunderbolt 3 port that has the same Type-C connector. Others, it is solely USB 3.1.
On some, you have a USB-C port that only has specific purposes. For instance, the Mavic Air has a USB-C port for data transfer but not charging. These aren't simple growing pains, unfortunately, and will require an industry-wide push to solve overall.
Quality also pops into play. There have been issues with subpar USB-C cables making their way across Amazon that didn't meet the actual specs of a proper cable and could damage your gear while charging. Apple's tight reign on Lightning and MagSafe alleviated these fears for Apple users for the longest time.
Despite all of this, USB-C is here to stay and with Apple driving the push, it should only get better.
Option A or B
USB-C needs to be completely ubiquitous, and unavoidable like USB-A was at the turn of the century. Apple needs to either replace Lightning on iPhones with USB-C or Apple needs to open up USB-C Lightning cables for third-party manufacturers to make.Lightning to USB-C
I want the latter. I want third-party USB-C to Lightning cables until the shift is complete. I've long maintained that Apple should stick with Lightning as the port on their devices. Lightning can't go away soon with iPhone battery cases, Mac peripherals, the Apple TV Siri remote, third-party microphones, third-party cameras, and much more all use this port.
As my esteemed colleague William points out, this is expected and while painful in the short term, will pay off over time. But, to counter William, while that pain would be expected, it doesn't have to be that way.
Charging over Lightning
What devices plug into your iPhone? Clearly a charging cable, but otherwise there are a lot of niche accessories that are specifically made for iOS devices. FLIR thermal camera, Moment's battery case, or hard-wired backup solutions. These products, all have to go through Apple's certification process specifically to work with iOS, so switching to USB-C wouldn't change anything as they exclusively work with those devices. It's not as if because iPhone is USB-C you would plug the iXpand Base or FLIR camera into your Mac.
That leaves charging as the biggest reason to switch to USB-C, and I do think it is a nice thought to have the same cable to charge all my gear.
Looking to a wireless future, which Apple already seems to want, iPhones aren't going to be about the cable but about wireless technology. Unless something revolutionary happens in this regard, though, Apple should stick with Lightning until wireless charging has taken over enough that the port simply doesn't matter.
Why force everyone to go through the painful process of ditching all their Lightning cables, swapping any physical accessories that use Lightning, ditching battery cases, all for the sake of a charging cable we are moving away from?
Apple has clearly prioritized wireless in recent years as they've stripped back the number of ports, focused on wireless earbuds and headphones, introduced wireless CarPlay, dropped prices on iCloud storage, are still likely bringing a wireless charging case to AirPods, and have now brought wireless charging to all of the new iPhones released over the last two model years.
Third parties to the rescue
Think of all the different Lightning cables that are out there. Extremely long ones, light up ones, super durable ones, adapters that work with other cables, tiny keychain ones, and other unique implementations. I've picked up many of these that serve different purposes around my home, office, car, and portable gear bag.USB-C and Lightning cables
Accessory makers like Nomad, Belkin, Anker, Native Union are all comping at the bit to make new USB-C Lightning cables. As a bonus, all of these new cables would still bring in a boatload of licensing revenue for Apple (because they totally need it).
If Apple would open this up, as has been rumored, I'd finally be able to go all-in on USB-C. My wall chargers could power all my gear over USB-C which is one of the largest headaches at the moment.
In the meantime
While we wait for Apple to open up licensing on USB-C Lightning cables -- or switch to USB-C completely -- I'll be here living in frustrated tech-limbo, forced to go between USB-A and USB-C chargers depending on which cable or wireless charger I happen to be using.The good news is, change is on the horizon.
Comments
This is a super specific scenario, but I have a 20TB LaCie drive connected to my Mac, but it provides only a tiny amount of power over Thunderbolt 3. Even with power coming in, while working, my battery actually goes down, yet the charging indicator says charging. I always have to keep a second power cable plugged in, but when it dislodges just slightly and stops charging, I don't get a notification because the hard drive provides a tiny trickle of power. Then, my computer will abruptly shut off when it inevitably runs out of juice. Very frustrating to this day!
In the old days, if the connectors fit, the cable probably was the right one. With USB-C, even though the connectors fit, the cable isn't necessarily going to work.
USB-C is a big step backwards in usability, and human interface. At the very least, the cables should tell the computer what their capabilities are, so the computer can let you know when you try to use the wrong cable (or at least help you identify what kind of cable you have)!
For people having issues with USB-C or in need of USB-A ports, I’d suggest a cheap hub-let off Amazon or elsewhere. In my experience they stay in, prevent cord stretching/wear, and provide you with any ports you might need (headphone, USB-A, camera card, passthrough for power).
If your cords are coming out on their own, that’s you stretching them — not a design flaw in USB (well, no more than there has ever been with previous iterations of USB).
USBA will be around for a very very very long time even if it’s just for cars.
Cars will migrate away from USB to wireless charging just like they’ve moved away from ‘mic’ ports to Bluetooth.
The future is not USBC, it’s wireless for power and thunderbolt for data (because USB 3.2 is still too slow).
I'm not clear how these issues are going to be solved.
I'm not crazy about the USB-A cable, and for DC power only applications, it is not a great choice. But damn if it isn't ubiquitous.
I think we'll have to get used to at least having an adapter to whatever charging-capable cable we have to be able to take advantage of the installed base of these ports for quite a while.
For decades, Apple cables (AppleTalk and ADB) represented the quality and sturdiness of Apple hardware. Nobody ever even think of one of those failing or breaking. Nowdays, you have to annualy (with luck) include in your family budget at least $150 to replace Apple lighting cables and laptop power bricks because cable failures. I love Apple computers...but man...their cables stinks..!
How ironic that the automotive standard for DC power connections is still alive and, like USB-A, was not originally intended for that sole purpose, and that these are what we are stuck with. (It's crazy to think that the 12V plug started out as cigarette lighter connector nearly a hundred years ago!). I don't see USB-A lasting a hundred years (heaven forbid), but I wouldn't be too surprised to see that automotive 12V plug several decades more!
$150? Bullshit. I've never had an Apple Lightning cable stop working, only 3rd party cables. None of my laptop chargers have failed either, and I still have my nearly 8 year old original MagSafe.
The hell are you talking about? We've moved on from USB 2.0. USB 3.1gen1 is 5Gbps, gen2 is 10Gps. The best Firewire port a Mac ever had was 800Mbps. Thunderbolt uses the USB-C connector. There is no such thing as "usb3-c".
Yes, I can get an adapter. I have one for my MacBook Pro because all it has is the damned USB C ports that aren't compatible with any accessory older than 6 months old, including every currently produced iPhone. Nor is it compatible with my company-issued security key. My question is why should we get an adapter so we can use it 90+% of the time instead of having a cable that just works without an adapter. And by the way, take a tour over to the Apple Store and look at the reviews for USB C adapters. The majority of them have 2 star reviews because they don't work. Even the lowly USB A - USB C adapter made by apple got panned because USB A plugs kept getting stuck in it.
I had a MacBook Air had the MagSafe connector which ran circles around USB C IME. It was quicker and easier to connect. It was reversible. It had a charging light so you could tell if it was charging or complete without even opening the device and it saved my ass several times when the dog or kids tripped over the cord. The only benefit of the USB C is I can plug it in on either side of the computer - something I still don't know that I need.
I agree with the other posters - USB C is a mess. with USB A, you knew what you had. With USB C - you have no idea. You may have a charging cable. You may have a data cable. You may have both. you may have a thunderbolt cable. If you get a hub, it may allow for data, it may not. Ditto with charging. Even if it allows for data, it might not be thunderbolt.