All you need to know about USB-C to Lightning Cable!

by Waseem S on November 01, 2022

So what's a USB-C to Lightning Cable? A USB-C to Lightning cable features a Lightning connection on one end and a USB-C connector instead of a normal USB-A connector on the other. You can charge and sync your iOS devices with a USB-C to Lightning connector. It's a type of cable which Apple generally offers to charge its proprietary devices. You can sync and charge your AirPods, AirPods Pro, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, as well as charge a Siri Remote with a USB-C to Lightning connector. A USB-C to Lightning connection will charge your iPhone significantly quicker than a USB-A to Lightning cable, so if you want to charge your iPhone rapidly, consider changing your cable and power adapter to USB-C. You may also choose wireless charging on newer iPhone models, which is more convenient but slower than a USB-C to Lightning connection.

 USB-C to Lightning Cable

The following iPhones feature a Lightning connector as well, although they only come with a USB-C to Lightning cable & no power adapter:

  • iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max

If you opened your new iPhone and discovered that the charging cord did not fit your existing charger, you have two options. For quicker charging, you may either buy a USB-C power converter to use with the included lead, or you can utilise your existing USB-A to Lightning connections and power adapters.

 

Are Third Party Cables Safe To Charge Apple Products?

Type C Cable to MFI lightning Braided Cable

Third-party chargers and cables might be dangerous at times, but they are frequently considerably cheaper. It's very important to keep in mind that any damage caused by third-party peripherals may void your iPhone's warranty. There are several Apple-approved third-party charging accessories available, so do some research.

 

USB-C VS Lightning Cable:

Despite their similarities, USB-C & Lightning are not the same thing. They are among the most popular charging cables on the industry, particularly for mobile devices. The most notable distinction between the two types of cables is that Lightning is a patented connection used on iPhones and other Apple products. USB-C and Lightning are considered to be connection, communication, & power supply protocols. Although both types of cables are typically used to charge devices such as smartphones and tablets, they may also be used for digital transfer chores such as uploading and downloading movies, music, photographs, and other media.

Type C Cable to Premium MFI lightning Braided Cable

 

Many regard USB-C to be the current standard for charging & data transmission. However, since September 2012, every iPad and iPhone has arrived with a Lightning cable. The only exception is the iPad Pro, which began using USB-C with the third generation devices in 2018. Since 2012, the iPhone has utilised Lightning, while other manufacturers have employed a variety of USB ports until settling on USB-C.

 

Does Data Transfer Rates Differs In USB-C VS Lightning Cable?

USB-C to Lightning Cable

USB-C can handle USB4, the most recent and fastest USB standard. As a result, USB-C connections may now carry data at speeds of up to 40Gbps. Lightning cords, on the other hand, are substantially slower and transport data at USB 2.0 rates of 480Mbps. Complicating matters is the fact that Apple does not publish all parameters for its proprietary technology, therefore it is unknown what the exact maximum transfer speed of Lightning is. However, Apple has not provided a protocol update since the debut of Lightning, implying that its functionality has evolved little since 2012. Of course, there are advantages to this. You may use a cable from 2012 and it will still work with modern iPhones. Therefore, USB-C has a significant speed advantage over Lightning. However, this benefit isn't as great as it appears, given that most people now transmit data wirelessly from their smartphones and other devices rather than utilising a cable.

 

Which Cable Is Highly Compatible With iPhone Devices?

 Type C Cable to MFI lightning Braided Cable

Although it is not an official worldwide standard, USB-3 is supported by the majority of current devices, including Android smartphones & Windows PCs. Even Apple's current Mac machines include USB-3/Thunderbolt hybrid connectors. USB-C is also supported by next-generation consoles such as the PS5 & Xbox Series X, along with the Nintendo Switch. However, because Lightning is proprietary to Apple products, its compatibility is limited. All iPhones and iPads launched since 2012, with the exception of 3rd generation iPad Pros and beyond, have a Lightning connector. A cable with at least one Lightning connection is required to connect your iPad or iPhone to a charger or other device.

 

Which Cable Offers More USB Power Delivery?

 

USB Power Delivery is a charging technique that can deliver up to 100W of power. It employs USB-C connections and cables to supply higher power to bigger devices like as phones, tablets, and laptops, charging them all quicker than ever before. A typical USB 2.0 gives up to 2.5 watts of electricity - plenty to charge your phone or tablet - but if you want to charge a laptop, USB-C with USB PD technology is your best option.

 Type C Cable to Premium MFI lightning Braided Cable

USB-C may signal the end of all proprietary laptop charging cords utilised by various manufacturers. You could even charge your laptop using one of those portable battery packs that you already use to charge your phones and other portable gadgets. You could connect your Macbook to an external display through a power cable, and that external display would charge your macbook as you used it as an external display - all through a single USB-C connection. As time passes, USB-C will be found in an increasing number of devices of all sorts. USB-C might eventually replace the Lightning connector in Apple's iPhones and iPads.

Conclusion:

Aside from durability concerns, USB-C outperforms Lightning in almost every way. Although USB-C is more sophisticated than Lightning, which one is ideal for you at the moment is determined by your habits or experience. Everyone has an own choice. It has a greater range of compatibility, higher data transfer speeds, and enhanced power delivery for faster charging.

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