It was great
What do I need to learn about the future of USB-C powering and charging my iPhone? A case study of the Lightning Life, the MagSafe Duo, and other Apple devices
Those are insignificant quibbles. USB-C ports on the iPhone 15 lineup are obviously the better choice in 2023. USB-C does everything Lightning can do and it often does things better. Whatever my gripes about buying new charging gear, the transition won’t be nearly as painful as the switch from the 30-pin connector to Lightning; I already have a bunch of USB-C charging cables and bricks that I can use with a USB-C-equipped iPhone.
Things have been great for the past decade, if you lived in the Lightning world. I agree that I am sad that lightning is leaving.
The Lightning Life, at least if you have an iPhone, has been convenient. Using a Lightning cable hardly requires any thought — its biggest revelation, at first, was that it could charge your phone no matter which way you plugged it in, a huge improvement over Apple’s old 30-pin connector. Plugging it into my phone when I am sleepy is not a hassle.
The Lightning standard created a generation of portable travel accessories, that were easy to carry and travel with. It powers one of my favorite Apple devices ever: the MagSafe Duo. I picked it up even though I did not think it was good and I adore it. It’s a low-profile way for me to charge my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods whenever I’m at my desk. I can charge my device at my final destination if I just put the MagSafe Duo in a small pocket in my backpack.
If you no longer need a lighting cable, look to donate or sell it to someone else. Otherwise, Apple, Best Buy, and others will take them for free recycling.
With Lightning on its way out, there could be a sudden influx of e-waste as Apple users swap out their devices for the new iPhone 15. It was one of Apple’s top arguments, but they were reluctant on the European Commission’s mandate to switch to USB-C.
The Last USB-C Cables for CarPlay: How Much Should You Buy? Why You Shouldn’t Get A Charged Cable?
For Apple CarPlay users: unless your vehicle already supports wireless CarPlay, you’re going to need a USB-C cable, either USB-C-to-C or A-to-C, depending on the age of your car. Otherwise, MagSafe mounts could make operating your iPhone in your car cleaner and safer.
If you have a side table or work desk that you put MagSafe in, it’s a great place to keep your phone charged whenever you’d like. The drawbacks of wireless charging are greater than the advantages of wired charging with the exception of the fact that wired charging is more efficient.
Universal charging and data transferring capabilities are found on almost all modern gadgets, including Apple’s iPad and MacBooks. It might just be the last cable we’ll ever need.
This time around, Apple requires us to buy new cables, but you probably already have the things you need to charge your phone. The 15 and 15 Pro are available with a cable in the box, but Apple stopped including charging bricks with the 12 in 2020.
There is a temptation to look for a power- only charging cable, but it is not worth the risk since it is not in the definition of the specifications of the USB-C standard. Better to carry your own charger and never plug your phone into someone else’s USB port.
As an iPhone user, you might already have Lightning cables set up in each room and would need just to replace the cable while keeping the power adapter where it is. If you only have the wall warts and you can’t find the appropriate USB-C cables for them, then it is time to go shopping.
The cable in the box is good for charging. It is short. It’s more convenient to charge with a six- or 10-foot cable. A 6.6-foot USB-IF 100W charging cable is under $15.
Unless you’re an ultra-minimalist or you’re buying a cable for your travel kit, get separate cables for your daily charging and data transfer, preferably in different colors.
