One of the biggest points of anticipation around this year’siPhonemodels was the transition from Apple ’s proprietary Lightning port to the USB - C standard . Some were worried about the transition requiring them to replace all their supplement , while others — yours truly included — looked onwards to a future of being able to use a single cable for their iPad , MacBook , and iPhone .
Now that the young models are out in the wild , however , the USB - C transition has prove to be a rose stand some thorn . It ’s not as unproblematic as let one port to rule them all ; and , in some cases , the move away from Apple ’s moderate ecosystem has precede some challenge that its substance abuser have n’t had to treat with in the past . These bumps in the route may get ironed out in time , but it ’s deserving being aware before you just blithely start join all your USB - carbon gadgets .
Certificate program
A common critique of Apple ’s proprietary connective is that they simply existed for Apple to make money , via its MFi ( née Made for iPod ) certification program . While Apple surely did net some income from that organisation , it ’s likely to have been a drop in the bucket next to sales of the hardware itself .
Moreover , the accusations of money - sponge embracement a black-market - and - white viewpoint that ignore the benefit of say programme : that Apple took the sentence to certify products with the Lightning connector , ensuring that they go well with the company ’s twist . In my long account of using Apple products , I seldom if ever ran into a trouble with a Lightning - based peripheral or cable . You could generally sense surefooted that if you plug one into your iPhone or iPad , it would turn on and channel datum exactly as you expected .
Lightning cable length had to adhere to Apple ’s standard , which helped insure operability . The switch to USB - C does n’t require Apple certification .
Lightning cables had to adhere to Apple’s standards, which helped insure operability. The switch to USB-C doesn’t involve Apple certification.
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Unfortunately , that does n’t extend to USB - nose candy overseas telegram . On its MFi FAQ Thomas Nelson Page , Apple specifically says that sealed accessory do not fall under the program , include “ USB - C charging accoutrement and USB equipment Class accessories . ” But those embrasure are astandard , so how much of a problem could it be ?
Charging extra
Anybody who ’s used engineering ( and that ’s , oh , anybody read this ) over the last several decades has become well habitual to the orthogonal USB - A connector . You know , the one you invariably put in wrong and have to flip over . But that was usually the most annoying part of the plug ; once you catch it connected , thing were fine .
The USB - C cable situation is … a little more complex . Not only do multiple protocols use USB - C connectors ( USB2 , multiple flavour of USB3 , as well as Thunderbolt 3 , 4 , and 5 ) , but not all cables are created adequate . Some provide only power , not data . Some provide unlike speeds of charging . Others provided dissimilar data fastness ( USB 2 vs. USB 3 ) . It provides for a complicated mire , as my colleagueGlenn Fleishman document a couple of years ago .
The long and unforesightful of it is that you ca n’t of necessity guarantee that the cable you buy will do just what you want it to do when you connect it to your iPhone – you have to verify to record the fine mark , and even then , as with so many technical school add-on bought online , there ’s a safe chance that it ’s been misrepresented . Which can guide to some unexpected problems along the way .
Lightning cables had to adhere to Apple’s standards, which helped insure operability. The switch to USB-C doesn’t involve Apple certification.
Drive me crazy
slip in point : CarPlay . Apple ’s organisation for connecting iPhones to motorcar is wonderful ; a few years ago Iinstalled a new head unit in my carjust to get CarPlay , and I ’ve never face back .
However , my social unit , like most of those on the market today , bank on a trusty old USB - A connexion . Which meant I had to supplant my Lightning cablegram with one that sported USB - A on one end and USB - C on the other . The problem is , as mentioned above , not all cable are make adequate . There have beena number of reports of citizenry running into issue with CarPlayusing dongle or other adapter to connect their USB - C iPhones .
And , indeed , I ran into some problems . Using the USB - A to USB - C cable I had on script , from a respected brand , has worked … intermittently with CarPlay . It ’s hard to tell how much of the error is the cable versus software package on the iPhone , but an experience that was more or less rock solid has gone to being extremely treacherous : sometimes my phone wo n’t connect at all , sometimes the car unit will take it ’s locked ( even though CarPlay should function fine from a locked phone ) .
The switch to USB-C has not gone smoothly for many CarPlay users.
Apple , for its part , might be tempted to bewilder up its hands and say USB - C is n’t its problem , but that ’s not a succeed normal for placating its frustrated and confused customer . The companionship does have a voice on the USB - IF , the organisation that oversees the USB standard , but pushing changes on improved labeling or standardization through that is likely to be a retentive , bureaucratic process .
The switch to USB - C has not gone swimmingly for many CarPlay users .
That lead the party with a twosome of options of its own : for one , promote people towards cables from Apple and its trusted partners ( companies like Belkin and Mophie ) , which may be more trusty but will certainly also be more expensive . It ’s been suggested that Apple could find a technological solution , perhaps providing an app or user interface that would let you know a cable ’s capabilities when you plug it in .
Either way , a move that had been hoped to streamline the lives of Apple users has proved to do somewhat the opposite . For a companionship that congratulate itself on relaxation - of - use and “ it just figure out ” chasteness , that ’s a meaning hiccup .
