Other Poll: USB-C or Lightning?

[throAU]

USB-C.

I'm slowly getting migrated to USB-C for everything; buying anything new with lightning seems like just prolonging the inevitable at this point.

I don't have any issues with either connector - type C seems durable enough on my MacBooks; lightning has been fine too but I'm sick of carrying around both type C and lightning cables.

 

[Abazigal]

Charging-wise, I am indifferent to both as I am using MagSafe anyways.

However, given the main selling point of the iPhone is the ability to take pro-res footage, and since lightning / airdrop currently takes a ridiculously long time to transfer, I feel it's way overdue the iPhone got a thunderbolt port to aid with wired data transfers.

 

[mrochester]

I’ve said I don’t care, but I keep seeing people say the benefit of USBC is one charger for everything. What happens when you need to charge all your devices at once?

And ironically the Mac’s are moving away from USBC charging back to a proprietary standard for the fastest charging speeds.

 

[PeterJP]

Lightning was one of the main reasons stopping me from getting an iPhone. In this USB-C for everything works, it’s an ugly relic of the past like Nokia chargers. They used to be so standard everybody had one at home, which was easy because I never had to carry a charger. Now I’m forced to carry one again because one brand hasn’t settled yet on USB-C.

 

[PeterJP]

I’ve said I don’t care, but I keep seeing people say the benefit of USBC is one charger for everything. What happens when you need to charge all your devices at once?

And ironically the Mac’s are moving away from USBC charging back to a proprietary standard for the fastest charging speeds.

I never have that. Batteries usually last long enough so I can get one device quickly beyond the low battery warning, to then start charging the next one. Also, my iPad needs a charger once a week maybe. It’s just not a scenario that happens in real life. And having one cable only on the desk surely beats having spaghetti.

 

[mrochester]

I never have that. Batteries usually last long enough so I can get one device quickly beyond the low battery warning, to then start charging the next one. Also, my iPad needs a charger once a week maybe. It’s just not a scenario that happens in real life. And having one cable only on the desk surely beats having spaghetti.

I’m totally different. My iPad needs charging daily as does my phone, and if I’m using my Mac for gaming that needs to be plugged in else it’ll be dead very quickly.

The idea of having multiple nearly dead devices and only one charger and cable for them just sounds like a recipe for stress to me!

 

[PeterJP]

I’m totally different. My iPad needs charging daily as does my phone, and if I’m using my Mac for gaming that needs to be plugged in else it’ll be dead very quickly.

The idea of having multiple nearly dead devices and only one charger and cable for them just sounds like a recipe for stress to me!

To each his own, of course! I use my iPad mainly for GoodNotes. I bought it to work on the train but now the office moved, I commute by car and use it far less than before. If you have a lightning iPad, you’ll need one lightning and one USB cable anyway. For USB-C iPads like mine, I also actually have two USB-C chargers just in case. But in my situation, I notice I can actually get by fine with just one.

 

[CTHarrryH]

I wonder what % of cars have USB-C ports vs. USB-A. I know it is the other end of the cable but USB-C for devices tend to have USB-C on both ends so another adapter needed for plugging into cars. I know wireless is coming but again how many cars have that? It will all change but..

 

[macsound1]

You know what's so frustrating about USB C? Sales people encouraging consumers that USB C charges "better" than USB A. It doesn't not charge, it's just margianlly slower. But who cares when you're charging overnight!

My parents just bought iPhone 13s today and the sales person told them they need to buy all new chargers. They were coming from iPhone 8s.
The worst.

 

[CTHarrryH]

you expect sales people to actually know something? They will need new chargers if they use the cord included with iPhones since they are USB-C at the charger end

 

[ronjon10]

I'm not a huge fan of either USB or Lightening, but the world is going to USB-C, so should Apple. Ideally the next gen (USB-D) becomes a magsafe connector similar to the macbook pro power connectors.

 

[throAU]

You know what's so frustrating about USB C? Sales people encouraging consumers that USB C charges "better" than USB A. It doesn't not charge, it's just margianlly slower. But who cares when you're charging overnight!

Actually type C is (can be, depending on spec) good for up to 240(?) watts now, type A isn't. Type A tops out at something like 12-15 watts IIRC?

 

[macsound1]

Actually type C is (can be, depending on spec) good for up to 240(?) watts now, type A isn't. Type A tops out at something like 12-15 watts IIRC?

But lightening vs USB C, we're talking about phones and tablets here. Neither of those will charge at more than 15ish watts

 

[synicalx1]

I think I'm in a tiny minority here, but I'd genuinely like to see zero ports on the iPhone at all.

 

[Adarna]

A little poll to see how the MacRumors community feels about USB-C vs Lightning ports on iPhones. Thought this was timely, given that the first iPhone modified with a USB-C port just sold on eBay for $86K

Remember... this poll is only accessible by people who signed up for MacRumor's forum.

It does not represent the ~1 billion worldwide iPhone users.

I see USB-C on an iPhone Pro & Pro Max and Lightning to continue with the iPhone & iPhone mini.

Why? See ProRes being a Pro-only feature. To fully realize its use you'll need USB-C 40Gbps throughput and 30W or higher fast charging to get to 0-50% in 29 mins and 0-100% in 119 mins.

 

[Pakaku]

The only good thing about Lightning is the plug type. USB-C should have adopted that form and iPhones should have adopted a version of USB-C like that. Maybe there's hope for "USB-D"...

 

[throAU]

But lightening vs USB C, we're talking about phones and tablets here. Neither of those will charge at more than 15ish watts

iPad Pro does fast charge on 30 watt chargers.

 

[throAU]

The only good thing about Lightning is the plug type. USB-C should have adopted that form and iPhones should have adopted a version of USB-C like that. Maybe there's hope for "USB-D"...

IMHO its a wash. Yes technically lightning may be better in terms of mechanical reliability, but they're both "good enough" at this point and USB-C is cross platform.

And every modern Apple computer is USB-C anyway.

 

[tuanlouis]

When I have a macbook and ipad pro, Usb typeC is what makes me upgrade to iPhone 14

 

[ian87w]

I think I'm in a tiny minority here, but I'd genuinely like to see zero ports on the iPhone at all.

That is not viable until iPhones are completely independent from computers. Right now, you still need to connect to a computer for troubleshooting/DFU mode. Apple is the bottleneck as the original design of iOS was just a “child” to a computer (parent). Apple needs to completely redesign iOS.

Unless Apple just cheat by using pogo pins, and then call it portless (while you can still use a cable to connect to the pogo pins),

 

[Taz Mangus]

The only good thing about Lightning is the plug type. USB-C should have adopted that form and iPhones should have adopted a version of USB-C like that. Maybe there's hope for "USB-D"...

USB-D connector is a lot larger then USB-C or lightning. I highly doubt Apple is going to adopt USB-D, given how large the connector is.

 

[CTHarrryH]

As I've said before my problem with portless is first my car. Doesn't have wireless and I have to get wireless CarPlay plus wireless charging which is a lot more of a pain than cables. Also, at this point, hotels, airports, gyms don't have wireless stuff - but ports So you'd have to carry wireless adapters everywhere.

 

[krspkbl]

don't really care. lightning doesn't bother me. it charges my phone and that's all i need it to do. don't transfer any large data over it. if i did then maybe usbc would be better. the only time i ever use data is when connecting my to car play. the lightning cable does that just fine so i'm happy.

if apple ditch the charging port completely i don't care. if i need to move to wireless magsafe then fine but i hope by the time apple do that they at least support carplay even if i need a usb a to c dongle or whatever.