Apple’s Lightning cable turns 10, but its time is over

guest · Sep 3, 2022

Happy birthday, it’s time to die
By Mitchell Clark - September 1, 2022

In September 2012, Apple introduced the iPhone 5 — it was bigger, faster, and more powerful than its predecessor, but perhaps the most revolutionary change was how you charged it. Onstage to introduce the new phone, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller announced that the company was switching from the 30-pin connector that had been on every iPhone to date over to a small new port called Lightning. Lightning seemed to be everything its predecessor and competitors were not: reversible, compact, and robust. Schiller called it “a modern connector for the next decade.”

Fast forward to 2022, and the connector has lasted the decade Schiller promised. Every iPhone still comes with a Lightning cable, and the cable remains a reliable method for charging devices and connecting to accessories and cars. But as Lightning approaches its 10th birthday, I, and many others, are ready for Apple to close the book on this connector and introduce a sea change in how we charge our phones. It’s not because Lightning’s technically outdated; it’s because another port has outdone it in one key area — ubiquity.
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But for all its strengths, there’s one thing Apple’s connector isn’t: universal. In 2022, most of our devices use a reversible, versatile port to charge and connect — and it’s not Lightning. USB-C is on basically every Android phone, and it’s increasingly the default port for various gadgets like GoPros and game consoles. Even Apple uses it as the premiere connector for all of its MacBooks and nearly all of its iPads.

These days, vanishingly few devices actually use Lightning.
Recent rumors have suggested that Apple’s 2023 iPhones will include USB-C as a response to the EU’s legislation.
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imdb · Oct 26, 2022

Greg Joswiak, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing, has confirmed the iPhone will be making the switch to a USB-C port because "we have no choice."
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The European Union will require all phones, tablets, and cameras to use USB-C for charging before the end of 2024. Based on Apple's typical release cycle for new iPhone models, it means the iPhone 16 will need to ship with a USB Type-C port, although Apple could decide to make the switch next year on the iPhone 15.
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Apple Will Switch iPhone to USB-C Because 'We Have No Choice' by Matthew Humphries

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Apple’s Lightning cable turns 10, but its time is over

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Apple’s Lightning cable turns 10, but its time is over

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