Apple is replacing the iPhone’s Lightning port with USB-C: What buyers need to know

This year’s iPhone 15 launch event will mark the beginning of the end of the Lightning connector, as Apple is forced by European Union lawmakers to switch to the USB-C standard.

The Lightning connector has been around for a while, first introduced on the iPhone 5 in September 2012, itself a follow-up to the 30-pin connector that has graced Apple devices since its release. 3rd generation. iPod Classic 2003.

Plus: The iPhone 15’s USB-C upgrade could be more game-changing than you think. Here’s why

But switching to USB-C is a big change. A big change. There are currently nearly 1.5 billion iPhones in use, all of which have a Lightning port. And every owner has at least one charging cable and charger — often more — and countless devices that plug into or communicate with the iPhone.

That’s a lot of things.

Does USB-C on iPhone still exist?

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of what this change actually means for iPhone users, let me answer a question I’ve been getting a lot lately – how long will iPhones have USB-C before Apple changed this port again?

Well, there’s talk that Apple wants to stick with the Lightning port until it’s ready to move the iPhone completely wireless. It’s unclear what this roadmap is, but if Apple plans to adopt USB-C, it’s clear that this plan is not ready to deploy yet.

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Will USB-C be available for a decade on the iPhone? Who knows (other than Apple’s senior executives), but I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see Apple start mentioning that wireless is the future. But if Apple starts selling cables and devices to take advantage of that USB-C port, I expect USB-C to be around for a few more years.

After all, every porting move Apple has done has been met with some resistance from consumers and bad press. It’s about change and some people don’t like change.

What accessories should I buy for iPhone 15?

Okay, enough about the future. You own an iPhone and are planning to upgrade to iPhone 15. What does this mean for you?

First of all, your Lightning cable is now history. There may be a Lightning to USB-C dongle that Apple will sell – more on this in a minute – but I don’t think it makes more sense to convert the old cable.

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Just buy some USB-C cable. Finally, you’ll now have a cable that works for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and billions of other devices out there.

As for the charger, if you have a USB-C charger then you can use it. It doesn’t matter what it is, it will work. It may not be the fastest charging speed but it will be compatible.

We don’t yet know what the charging speeds of the new iPhone 15 will be like, but if you have something like that 30W . USB-C Chargerthen it will probably be as powerful a charger as you need.

If you are using MagSafe wireless chargerthen you are already living in the future and you are ready to go.

What about wired CarPlay? Cars are equipped with a USB-A port. That’s why many people still use USB-A-to-Lightning cables even after they’ve switched to USB-C everywhere else. We don’t have any details yet, but I’d bet that a USB-A to USB-C cable will work or that Apple will almost certainly have a dongle to sell to customers.

See, even though Apple adopted the change to USB-C, the company not only made it a great idea but also leveraged it to sell more things.

Also: MagSafe iPhone-style wireless charging may be coming to your Android phone. This is why

What about the countless things out there that already connect to the iPhone? Everything from docks to thermal cameras. Anything and everything with a Lightning connector.

Well, you’ll need that dongle again. Maybe get a few so you always have one on hand. Or, if you feel like dongle life is too much of a hassle, you’ll need to buy new things.

It’s certainly a change, but with nearly a billion and a half devices with Lightning ports, it will be a while before they completely disappear. In fact, I still see the odd iPod with the 30-pin connector still in use. And today, there are more devices with Lightning ports than there ever were iPhones and iPods with 30-pin connectors.

Plus: My all-time favorite USB-C accessory gets a magnetic upgrade

So yes, it’s a change, but don’t panic, because all your problems can be solved by giving Apple some more money.

You may need to replace a cable or two and maybe buy a few dongles, but other than that, it’s not a big deal. And remember, instead of tossing those old cables in the trash, be a hero, save the planet, and pass them on to someone with an older iPhone.