I was a bit skeptical of your statement, because it FELT like they came out at the same time; but you are completely correct. The iPhone 5 with lightning was released Sep 2012, and the USB-C standard was published in Aug 2014. Almost exactly 2 years later. The first smartphone with USB-C didn’t come out until a full year later, though. So lightning was more like 3 years ahead in the phone world.
Other than, you know, the connector. The thing most people care about. Most USB-C cables today are usb 2.0 still anyway so they have the same spec as Lightning.
Micro usb was non reversible, the little pins broke all the fuckin time so the cable wouldn’t stay in the port, and the connector would damage the port itself so you’d just be fucked.
Lightning was miles ahead of that. It was reversible so it literally didn’t matter how you put it in. There were no fragile little pins to hold it in so it lasted a lot longer, and since the internal pins in the port were all on the sides of the port it was a lot harder to damage the port itself. If the cable got damaged you could just replace it without worrying about the port.
Lightning was better than micro and mini usb in pretty much every way.
There were no fragile little pins to hold it in so it lasted a lot longer
…except Apple made the housing and cable super fragile so they’d sell more “certified” cables. Phew, dodged a bullet there. Any excuse Apple ever made about Lightning falls on its face when you figure out how two-faced they are.
Sad thing is that I actually liked Lightning cables, a lot, but I liked them when they were made by decent manufacturers with braided cord and a sturdy connector.
So what is there left to say about it…that you don’t have to look at the port before plugging a lightning cable in? Is that your justification for saying the USB standard sucked?
Most USB-C cables today are usb 2.0 still anyway so they have the same spec as Lightning.
Modern PCs have 3.0 ports. Androids have 3.0 ports. 3.0 cables are available at any online store. What the actual fuck are you talking about?
Not the fucking port in the phone though. Way to ignore that.
I’m skeptical that this happens anywhere remotely near frequently enough to condemn the entire technology. Never seen it, and never heard about it until just now.
“Android” isn’t a single maker. Sure galaxies and pixels are USB3.0 or 3.1. The vast majority of cheapo Android phones use 2.0.
I would love for you to find a single noteworthy android manufacturer that is not in this list. *Edited because this link was not working correctly on desktop site
I’m skeptical that this happens anywhere remotely near frequently enough to condemn the entire technology. Never seen it, and never heard about it until just now.
I have three kids. I have had to buy parts off of eBay and replace the ports on both of my PS4 controllers. They see way, way less use than any of the kids iPhones, or mine or my wife’s. I have a Kindle that has to be propped “just-so” to charge.
I really don’t give much a shit if everyone in this thread hates apple, but micro-usb is a fucking garbage connector that frankly, USB-C shares too much in common with. If you stepped on a lightning cable that was in a device, you probably need a new cable. If stepped on a micro-usb, you probably need a new device and new cable. USB-C, you need a new cable and you might need a new device (see also, me figuring out how to fix the kids oculus this week.)
Yep, the e-waste conversation is bullshit apple propaganda because they aren’t happy about playing nice with competitors and losing proprietary control of their connectors despite it being the same e-waste as if they were upgrading from or to any other standard.
Eh, at the time they went with proprietary over micro usb to have a reversible port that could push more wattage. I feel like they’ve been dragging their feet because consumers hate changing to new cable standards. I remember the complaints when they moved away from the 30-pin to lightning. They’ve been putting USB C on devices for years now.
I remember the complaints when they moved away from the 40-pin to lightning.
Are apple consumers more prone to this complaint than the rest of us? Since I’ve had cell phones I’ve moved from USB-mini to USB-micro to USB-C. Every time it was a better change. This is just as many as apple is being asked to do except now they get to benefit from all of the 3rd party cable manufacturers.
I think most tech-illiterate consumers are iPhone users. That’s been my experience in the US at least. If I started talking cable wattage or data transfer speeds to my aunts and uncles they would immediately glaze over.
They weren’t going to keep a huge 30 pin connector for two extra iPhone models or spend two years on microusb just to quickly switch to usb-c. And I think they went with the 40-pin over micro-usb as they already had a base of consumers with those cables from the success of iPods. If Wikipedia is correct micro usb was only announced six months prior to the original iPhone.
Lightning predates USB C by like two years
I was a bit skeptical of your statement, because it FELT like they came out at the same time; but you are completely correct. The iPhone 5 with lightning was released Sep 2012, and the USB-C standard was published in Aug 2014. Almost exactly 2 years later. The first smartphone with USB-C didn’t come out until a full year later, though. So lightning was more like 3 years ahead in the phone world.
But not USB as a standard it doesn’t. They still chose proprietary over standard because wankers.
Micro usb fucking sucked. Being a standard doesn’t mean shit when the standard is shit.
Nah, they didn’t suck.
What the fuck are you talking about? Lightning cable specs were identical to micro USB.
Other than, you know, the connector. The thing most people care about. Most USB-C cables today are usb 2.0 still anyway so they have the same spec as Lightning.
Micro usb was non reversible, the little pins broke all the fuckin time so the cable wouldn’t stay in the port, and the connector would damage the port itself so you’d just be fucked.
Lightning was miles ahead of that. It was reversible so it literally didn’t matter how you put it in. There were no fragile little pins to hold it in so it lasted a lot longer, and since the internal pins in the port were all on the sides of the port it was a lot harder to damage the port itself. If the cable got damaged you could just replace it without worrying about the port.
Lightning was better than micro and mini usb in pretty much every way.
…except Apple made the housing and cable super fragile so they’d sell more “certified” cables. Phew, dodged a bullet there. Any excuse Apple ever made about Lightning falls on its face when you figure out how two-faced they are.
Sad thing is that I actually liked Lightning cables, a lot, but I liked them when they were made by decent manufacturers with braided cord and a sturdy connector.
Lightning cables are notorious for breaking. https://you-well.co.uk/why-apple-cables-break-so-easily-what-to-do/
So what is there left to say about it…that you don’t have to look at the port before plugging a lightning cable in? Is that your justification for saying the USB standard sucked?
Modern PCs have 3.0 ports. Androids have 3.0 ports. 3.0 cables are available at any online store. What the actual fuck are you talking about?
You’re the first person I’ve ever heard defend micro usb lol. So congratulations there.
Yes Apple branded lightning cables break pretty easily. Not the fucking port in the phone though. Way to ignore that.
“Android” isn’t a single maker. Sure galaxies and pixels are USB3.0 or 3.1. The vast majority of cheapo Android phones use 2.0.
I’m skeptical that this happens anywhere remotely near frequently enough to condemn the entire technology. Never seen it, and never heard about it until just now.
I would love for you to find a single noteworthy android manufacturer that is not in this list. *Edited because this link was not working correctly on desktop site
You do know that the connector is separate from the protocol right?
The galaxy S23 ultra comes with a usb 2.0 type c cable in the box.
If you want a 3.2 cable with 45W charging you have to buy it separately.
I have three kids. I have had to buy parts off of eBay and replace the ports on both of my PS4 controllers. They see way, way less use than any of the kids iPhones, or mine or my wife’s. I have a Kindle that has to be propped “just-so” to charge.
I really don’t give much a shit if everyone in this thread hates apple, but micro-usb is a fucking garbage connector that frankly, USB-C shares too much in common with. If you stepped on a lightning cable that was in a device, you probably need a new cable. If stepped on a micro-usb, you probably need a new device and new cable. USB-C, you need a new cable and you might need a new device (see also, me figuring out how to fix the kids oculus this week.)
that article sources nothing.
It sources literally 17K comments on the Apple forums complaining about connectors breaking.
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Sure, but that moves us out of a conversation about e-waste
Yep, the e-waste conversation is bullshit apple propaganda because they aren’t happy about playing nice with competitors and losing proprietary control of their connectors despite it being the same e-waste as if they were upgrading from or to any other standard.
Eh, at the time they went with proprietary over micro usb to have a reversible port that could push more wattage. I feel like they’ve been dragging their feet because consumers hate changing to new cable standards. I remember the complaints when they moved away from the 30-pin to lightning. They’ve been putting USB C on devices for years now.
They only came with 5W chargers from the early models up to the iPhone 11 in 2019.
Yeah, but Apple was planning on using the port for years, which they have. iPhone 8 was the first to support faster charging in 2017.
Are apple consumers more prone to this complaint than the rest of us? Since I’ve had cell phones I’ve moved from USB-mini to USB-micro to USB-C. Every time it was a better change. This is just as many as apple is being asked to do except now they get to benefit from all of the 3rd party cable manufacturers.
I still hear people complain about the switch from 30-pin to Lightning. People who aren’t into tech are extremely resistant to change
I think most tech-illiterate consumers are iPhone users. That’s been my experience in the US at least. If I started talking cable wattage or data transfer speeds to my aunts and uncles they would immediately glaze over.
Two years is like no time in the land of technology standards. Apple did not know whats going to happen in 2 years? Come on!
They weren’t going to keep a huge 30 pin connector for two extra iPhone models or spend two years on microusb just to quickly switch to usb-c. And I think they went with the 40-pin over micro-usb as they already had a base of consumers with those cables from the success of iPods. If Wikipedia is correct micro usb was only announced six months prior to the original iPhone.