USB-C is awesome. It is the future and in some ways it is good Apple are being the way they are.
But... I wish Apple would put USB-C in the iDevices (honestly why does the iPhone and iPad use Lightning when USB-C exists??). It is annoying that I can ditch all my cables except that one fucking extra Apple cable.
Time will tell, but I wonder if reliability will be the issue. USB-C has 24 contacts crammed in there. That's a lot of tiny parts for something that gets manhandled and lint packed as much as a phone charger connection.
If I was on the hook to warranty replace $600 devices when the internal connector gets ruined I might take my time jumping on board too.
It isn't like Lightning is super reliable. I have had many official cables fall apart within a year of normal business travel and at least one port on an iPhone 6 fail most likely due to something getting in the port (although Apple never stated that obviously).
I doubt USB-C is that much worse than Lightning. Even if it is say 10% less reliable as a cable it would still be much better to have a USB-C port simply because you are more likely to have a USB-C cable if everything else uses it.
You may have just saved me a trip to the Apple Store, thanks. I hadn't realized there was a build up of lint, and cables were failing to "clip" into my phone.
Sadly nothing fixed it and I tried a dozen things.
Totally anecdotal but I have had a Nexus 6P for over a year now and no issues with the USB-C port so, for me, it is just as durable so far as Lightning :)
Because Lightning is significantly thinner, also less wide, and mechanically superior in very way. There's a much firmer "snap" when you plug it in, the connection stays connected, and the port itself is more durable as well, due to not having a plasticy thin thingy in the middle that holds all the contacts.
Couldn't agree more. I recently used Type C for the first time and it just feels so cheap in comparison. Nowhere near as bad as microUSB but still, there's just something about it.
The only problem I have with their use of Lightning in phones is that they want headphone manufacturers to switch to Lightning...
I'd think (but have zero experience here, would love to hear otherwise if I'm wrong) that C would be better for RF interference purposes. C has the contacts inside a solid shroud, lightning has them exposed. Seems like lightning would need extra shielding on the port side, where C takes care of some / all on the cord?
My (crazy) theory is that they will remove all ports on the iPhone soon, and rely on wireless charging and data. It may be necessary to achieve Ives (well documented) dream of a screen that covers the entire front edge-to-edge.
They havent switched to USB-C because people will br super annoyed if they just supported it for a couple of years.
It also explain headphone jack removal. Removing two ports at the same time would make people super mad. And they also need to stimulate the wireless headphone market.
> It may be necessary to achieve Ives (well documented) dream of a screen that covers the entire front edge-to-edge.
Source on this?
I didn't know this is what Ive wants to achieve, but it's something I've assumed every device manufacturer will be racing towards (even if it is on a niche device to test market reaction) and I've wondered why no one seems to be boldly pushing this?
They'll probably change to USB-C eventually though, and the smart time to do that was in the same year that they did on all their other hardware, which is also the same year that they dropped the headphone jack.
IMHO they should have done it with the iPhone 7 has they ditched the 3.5mm jack forcing people to buy headphones that will only work with an Apple iPhone or iPad. Hell not even their laptops have Lightning ports so they are literally useless for anything else.
I also find it amusing that they released the new MacBook Pro with a 3.5mm jack when they clearly don't need it. It makes even less sense on a laptop than a phone IMHO.
But... I wish Apple would put USB-C in the iDevices (honestly why does the iPhone and iPad use Lightning when USB-C exists??). It is annoying that I can ditch all my cables except that one fucking extra Apple cable.