What is the difference between USB C and Lightning? (And which Is Best)

Apple tends to make its own accessories. This is evident in the Lightning charging cables. How does the Lightning charging cable compare to the USB-C connector, which is more popular?

iPhones cannot support USB C. Let’s make a quick comparison between Lightning vs USB-C.

Lightning vs USB – The Final Rundown

USB-C wins based on its specifications. The USB-C has more power and transmits data faster. It can also connect to a greater number of devices. However, that is only a small part.

Apple created Lightning to be a thinner alternative to bulkier USB. This is still true today. The Lightning connector has been exempted from the tabs that connect to it, making them a little more robust.

The bottom line is that both connectors are in very distinct niches. Lightning provides power to the iPhone’s ultra-slim form factor via smaller ports, while USB-C offers the highest charging and connectivity standards for all devices.

Lightning vs USB-C: At a Glance

Apple Lightning	USB-C
It was launched in 2012	It was launched in 2014
Apple products only use the proprietary standard	A wide range of devices are supported, including smartphones and laptops
Maximum Transfer Speed of 480Mbps – equivalent to USB2.0	Thunderbolt 3 & USB 4 offer maximum transfer speeds of 40Gbps
Connector 8-pin, reversible	Reversible connector with 24-pins
The battery can supply 12 W power. It is also possible to extend the power output to 20 W by using a USB C to Lightning cable	The USB Power Delivery technology allows for fast charging and can provide power of up to 220 W
With adapters, can interface with USB and HDMI	Interfaces with USB and DVI, HDMI, VGA with adapters

Lightning: Older, But Functional

Apple developed the Lightning standard in 2012 to replace the USB-A technology. This gave the iPhone 5 a lighter dock connector. The Lightning standard offers transfer speeds that exceed USB 2.0’s maximum limits and is considered a better option than the micro USB ports on Samsung phones.

The USB-C was released, which made it possible to have a more standard USB option. All sorts of USB devices switched to this new technology, which features reversible connectors as well as improved transfer abilities.

Apple didn’t want to throw out years of effort and so kept the older version. Apple introduced inductive charging to the iPhone 8 as an option to Lightning. This was the only major change.

Apple continues to ship the iPhone 13 with Lightning ports despite USB 4 becoming a reality. This ignores criticism from public officials about their unwillingness to embrace better technology. While the EU directive will ultimately force Apple into compliance with its new directive to reduce electronic waste by setting universal standards, it is still years away from becoming binding.

The USB-C is a confusing step in the right direction

USB-C has a confusing terminology problem. There is a new variant in the USB standard that exists along with the standard numbers versions There are multiple versions, each with its own speed and different features.

USB Type-C does not specify the physical connector design. The actual specifications depend on the version Thunderbolt or USB It decides which features to use. Thunderbolt 3 versions can transfer at 40Gbps while USB 3.1 is capable of 10Gbps.

Even the Standard USB 3.0 This data transfer speed is 5 Gbps which is an incredible upgrade to Apple Lightning’s maximum of 480 Mb. The higher bandwidth allows for greater data transfer speeds DisplayPort interface using USB-C connectors A/V streams with 8K resolutio.

Power Factor

We all know that data transfers are no longer possible using cables. Transferring data via a wireless network is far more efficient. These standards are only used for charging.

With this goal in mind, the USB-C standard is designed. USB Power Delivery technology enables connectors that can deliver up to 100 watts of power. This is sufficient power for laptops, consoles and mobile devices. It is possible to get 240 W with the most recent version. However, this technology has yet to be tested in real life.

Lightning however, is able to manage just 12 W To squeeze 20W out of your USB-C cable to Lightning connector, you can also use a power adapter, But that’s it. This makes iOS phones charge slower than Android smartphones, even when they have fast charging.

Why doesn’t Apple use USB-C instead?

Apple should migrate to USB-C technology if the USB standard is so far superior than older Lightning. While some may think it is all greed, we believe that there’s more to the story.

Wrong Time at the Right Time

First, remember that Lightning was released two years earlier than USB-C. It means the technology had been used for years before Apple was able to integrate it into iPhones.

Therefore, switching to USB-C means that Lightning would be gone a couple of years after it was launched. This will cause a major blow to the manufacturers who already make the cables and chargers. Apple remained steady.

Unlimited Power and Limited Need

Utility is another factor. The primary purpose of Lightning is to charge iPhones. It is quite good at doing this. A USB-C cable may have more power but iPhones do not require that much. There is very little benefit to switching to another standard.

Apple did not hesitate to add USB-C ports for devices with higher power consumption. Apple devices such as the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro These are larger, so they can handle the bigger port sizes without problems.

Wireless Is the Future

What was the last time you connected your smartphone to a computer to send a file? The norm is wireless connections, and wired technology has been reduced to charging only.

The rise in popularity of wireless charging Even though MagSafe is an option, it’s possible that MagSafe will be discontinued. Apple may decide to eliminate all ports and make the iPhone completely wireless.

What is better: USB-C or Lightning?

If you have both USB-C ports on your phone, it is smart to plug in the USB-C cable. USB-C can not only transfer data faster, but also can transmit more power and charge the phone quicker.

Lightning is an old standard. It is alive and kicking because of the insulation of Apple’s tech environment and the low power consumption of Apple products, such as the iPhone or iPod. You can get more powerful devices such as the Apple Macbooks already use USB-C You can use it to incredible effect.

Apple’s inability to upgrade its iPhone’s charging ports, whether for legitimate reasons or not has not won anyone over. The company’s decision on whether to upgrade or discontinue wired charging will only be known over time.