Apple's USB-C charger and third-party USB-C Lightning cables are good signs for future iPh...
Apple is now selling its own 18W USB-C charger and is now allowing third-party MFi certified Lightning to USB-C cables. AppleInsider discusses why this is a good sign for future USB-C parity in all of Apple's chargers.
18W and 12W Apple power adapters
Last month, Apple released the new iPad Pro, and it ditched the Lightning port for a USB-C port. Along with that, it came with an 18W USB-C power adapter that charges faster than the previously included 12W charger.
This charger isn't only designed for iPad, but is packing the exact amount of wattage to reach the full potential of fast charging on iPhone 8 and newer iPhones like the X, XS, and XR. It wasn't available for purchase separately, until just yesterday, the 5th of December.
Previously, if you went the Apple-charger route, you'd have to buy at least a 29W MacBook power adapter and a USB-C to Lightning cable to get fast charging, which would run you $68 and be far more power than you needed.
Now, with the new 18W USB-C Power adapter on sale separately for only $29, you can get fast charging for quite a bit cheaper, and that's not the end of it.
Just last week, Apple informed members of its MFI licensing program that they can now manufacture USB-C to Lightning cables, and they started selling newly updated Lightning connectors that are able to supply 18 watts for Fast Charging or up to 15 watts of power with a standard power adapter.
For consumers, the best part about this is that the third-party cables are going to be significantly cheaper and more durable than Apple's $19 option. With third parties involved, we will see rugged, longer, and other variations on the basic cable. Based on current lead times to receive the parts from Apple, they could start hitting store shelves as early as February to March next year.
Now that third-parties can start releasing these cables, it is possible that a USB-C charger will come with future iPhones, finally, ditching that old and slow USB-A 5-watt charger.
Apple Watch Series 4
Earlier this year, Apple also released a USB-C Apple Watch charger which will likely come with next year's Apple Watch if they do make the switch to USB-C for power adapters across all product lineups.
There is a chance that Apple will ditch Lightning all together, switching to USB-C on next year's iPhones, but that's still a bit of a stretch.
5W USB power adapter
We've been dealing with these slow 5-watt chargers for far too long now, and there shouldn't be any outrage over the switch from USB-A to USB-C since the market will already be loaded with third-party USB-C power adapters and USB-C to Lightning cables.
Only thing we can do is wait to see how it all plays out.
18W and 12W Apple power adapters
Last month, Apple released the new iPad Pro, and it ditched the Lightning port for a USB-C port. Along with that, it came with an 18W USB-C power adapter that charges faster than the previously included 12W charger.
This charger isn't only designed for iPad, but is packing the exact amount of wattage to reach the full potential of fast charging on iPhone 8 and newer iPhones like the X, XS, and XR. It wasn't available for purchase separately, until just yesterday, the 5th of December.
Previously, if you went the Apple-charger route, you'd have to buy at least a 29W MacBook power adapter and a USB-C to Lightning cable to get fast charging, which would run you $68 and be far more power than you needed.
Now, with the new 18W USB-C Power adapter on sale separately for only $29, you can get fast charging for quite a bit cheaper, and that's not the end of it.
Just last week, Apple informed members of its MFI licensing program that they can now manufacture USB-C to Lightning cables, and they started selling newly updated Lightning connectors that are able to supply 18 watts for Fast Charging or up to 15 watts of power with a standard power adapter.
For consumers, the best part about this is that the third-party cables are going to be significantly cheaper and more durable than Apple's $19 option. With third parties involved, we will see rugged, longer, and other variations on the basic cable. Based on current lead times to receive the parts from Apple, they could start hitting store shelves as early as February to March next year.
Now that third-parties can start releasing these cables, it is possible that a USB-C charger will come with future iPhones, finally, ditching that old and slow USB-A 5-watt charger.
Apple Watch Series 4
Earlier this year, Apple also released a USB-C Apple Watch charger which will likely come with next year's Apple Watch if they do make the switch to USB-C for power adapters across all product lineups.
There is a chance that Apple will ditch Lightning all together, switching to USB-C on next year's iPhones, but that's still a bit of a stretch.
5W USB power adapter
We've been dealing with these slow 5-watt chargers for far too long now, and there shouldn't be any outrage over the switch from USB-A to USB-C since the market will already be loaded with third-party USB-C power adapters and USB-C to Lightning cables.
Only thing we can do is wait to see how it all plays out.
Comments
When traveling, I just swap out the US plug for a Euro plug and don't have to mess with adaptors.
SO many Euro plugs are loose, so that heavy, bulky power adaptors with additional plug adaptors fall out. PITA!
The Travel Adapter kit still works with the 30W USB-C chargers and up. Or the old 12W USB-A charger. It is annoying that the 18W charger doesn't work that way. I never use the 5W charger that comes with my iPhone, at least not since they went with the smaller design. I've even used the Twelve South PlugBug plugged into the 12W charger to charge my iPad and iPhone at the same time. (It works, but doesn't look very elegant.)
As for loose plugs, I tend to have that problem more when visiting the US, especially in older hotels. And the 87W power brick is really hefty.
Horrible that I couldn’t use the pdf version of this. It was just 14 KB. The iOS Shortcut converted it into a 500 KB jpg!
Anyways, if whoever was testing this ran it to 100%, the 18 W charger might have charged the phone about 10 min faster than the 12W USBA charger. Not much gain over the 12W.
People on the Internet want the most bang for the buck, and they are vocal about it. By people, it’s like 1% of people, and not necessarily actual customers or even potential buyers. A lot of the complaints come from fanboy wars, which is at least half of the comments from fan forums, and most of them have no intention of buying the product.
I’m still unclear of usage of these super fast chargers. There will be a subset of people who do not charge their phones overnight. They only charge when the charge levels gets to <10%. There is like a generational memory of charging war stories with nickel-cadmium and metal hydride batteries that won’t die. Or people who simply don’t notice they are running out of battery and don’t charge until the phone is out. So faster charging for them could be great for them, but they would be better just getting into the habit of charging overnight.
There are people who are on their phones nonstop, with the screen on all the time, and need to charge their phones mid day. So fast charging is great for them. Uh, nothing else? That’s about 1% of the market? Less? Getting a battery case and an external battery would address their usage, or they should get a phone with the fastest charge rates.
Some flagship phones are twice that . Hell, my *wireless *charging isn't too far from that.
I just expected more, I guess