Why USB Type-C Forced iPhone 15 to Abandon the Lightning Port?

Why USB Type-C Forced iPhone 15 to Abandon the Lightning Port?

Apple has just launched the iPhone 15, and it has finally let go of its Lightning port in favor of the standard Type-C. This is said to be one of its most significant features, aside from the 3nm A17 chip.

There are various speculations about why Apple decided to switch from its proprietary Lightning port to the universal Type-C for the iPhone 15.

One reason cited is the legislation passed by the European Parliament on October 4, 2022, which mandates that all new portable smart devices starting from the end of 2024 must use a USB Type-C charging interface.

Therefore, Apple had already confirmed last year that all the phones they release in 2024 will adopt the Type-C interface.

As the flagship for 2024, the iPhone 15’s switch to Type-C seems to align with this regulation.

But is it solely because of the EU’s decree?

So, what exactly is Type-C?

What is its charm that impressed the European Parliament enough to force Apple to abandon its Lightning port and embrace Type-C?

Today, let’s get to know the reigning champion of interfaces – USB Type-C.

First, what is USB?

Type-C, as a form of USB, let’s first understand the widely used data interface, USB.

With the advent of computers, they needed to connect to various external devices like mice, keyboards, printers, scanners, cameras, and phones.

As shown in the image below, a desktop computer can have numerous interfaces, including the old PS/2 interface used for keyboards and mice, VGA interfaces, Ethernet ports, headphone jacks, and more.

(Image source: wikipedia.org)

USB interfaces, as one of them, were initially commonly used to connect USB flash drives because the full name of a USB flash drive is USB Disk.

Nowadays, their applications have expanded to include mice, keyboards, headphones, and more.

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and it is both an interface and a data transmission standard. It was developed jointly by companies like Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, and Nortel in 1994 to replace both parallel and serial interfaces.

Serial Interface Bus

USB interface standards are published by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which, to date, has evolved from USB 1.0, released in 1996, to USB 4.0.

The maximum data transfer rate for USB 4.0 is 40Gbps, a far cry from the 1.5Mbps of the original USB 1.0. With increasing data transfer speeds, USB’s applications have expanded, making it the dominant player in data transmission.

What are the different USB interface forms?

USB, as a serial data protocol, relies on physical structure. USB-IF, the USB standards organization, has provided multiple USB interface forms, primarily including Type A, Type B, Type C, and their miniature versions – USB Mini A, USB Mini B, USB Micro C, and USB Micro B SuperSpeed, among others.

Type A

Type A is the commonly used computer data interface, also known as USB-A. It has a flat, rectangular shape.

The USB Type-A connector is found on the host controller of computers and hubs.

This interface connects securely using friction, making it easy for users to connect and disconnect.

The Type-A connector doesn’t have circular pins; instead, it uses flat contacts that can withstand continuous plugging and unplugging. Type A connectors provide “downstream” connections and are typically used for host controllers and hubs.

One point to note is that, from USB 1.0 to USB 3.0, they all support the Type A interface form, which looks the same externally but has different pin functionalities. Typically, the internal plastic color can be used to differentiate them – white for USB 1.0 or 1.1, black for USB 2.0, and blue with 9 pins for USB 3.0.

Here’s a pinout diagram for USB 3.0:

Why USB Type-C Forced iPhone 15 to Abandon the Lightning Port?

(Image source: wikipedia.org)

Type B

Type B has a different external shape from Type A.

The internal structure of Type B is square, while the external shape is trapezoidal.

It’s more robust but occupies more space. This data interface form is commonly used for printers.

USB Mini and Micro

Before the emergence of Type C, there was a need for smaller USB versions. This led to the development of USB Mini and Micro versions. These versions were widely used in electronic devices, such as external hard drives and digital cameras, and the most common USB interface for mobile phones.

The USB Micro interface is flatter than the Mini version, which allows for thinner phone designs, but it’s also more fragile. Many users have experienced breaking the tongue inside due to inserting it in the wrong direction.

Lightning Port

Speaking of small form factors, we can’t forget Apple’s Lightning port. Since adopting the Lightning interface, it became effortless to charge your phone at night with your eyes closed.

In 2012, Apple introduced the proprietary 8-pin Lightning connector, which is often referred to as the Lightning port. This Lightning interface boasts not only a robust structure but also support for reversible insertion. The ability to insert the plug in any direction was something that made users of other USB Micro connectors envious.

The Lightning port has 8 pins on both sides, and they look identical. However, there are differences in pin definitions between side A and side B. How is it possible for it to work when inserted in either direction?

The design of the Lightning port is truly remarkable. The diagram below shows the principle of the Lightning port. It reveals that pin 1 on side A connects to pin 4 on side B, pin 4 on side A connects to pin 5 on side B, pin 5 on side A connects to pin 8 on side B, and pin 8 on side A connects to pin 1 on side B. This internal structure ensures that the data cable works properly regardless of which side you insert.

But Apple’s closed ecosystem is well-known. Did Apple really let other manufacturers use its Lightning port? Apple has been making a lot of money, even with a basic Lightning charging cable that costs a few dollars to produce. The Lightning MFI authorization alone costs three to four dollars, far exceeding the production cost of a charging cable.

USB-IF has been racking their brains over this, but I also have some pride.

Type C

A few months after the introduction of the Lightning interface, USB-IF unveiled the USB 3.1 standard in January 2013 at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States.

Along with this standard, they introduced the new Type-C interface, which supports a maximum data transfer rate of 10GB/s.

In terms of appearance, Type-C is quite different from Type A and Type B, with a socket size of approximately 8.3mm x 2.5mm, featuring an ultra-slim design.

It supports reversible insertion from both sides, can endure 10,000 repeated insertions and removals, and comes equipped with a standard specification cable that can deliver 3A of current.

It also supports “USB PD” that can provide up to 100W of power, exceeding the existing USB power capabilities.

From then on, there was no need to fret about not being able to insert it correctly.

But if you take a closer look at this Type-C and Lightning, do you see some signs of “reverse engineering”? Doesn’t it seem like they just extended a line from Apple’s Lightning socket?

We are sure we are not the only one who felt the urge to plug an Apple charging cable into this Type-C port the first time we saw it.

Well, in technology, things can be quite ambiguous, especially when it comes to RF connectors. Defining a certain physical size can lead to a patent and monopoly on the production and sale of such connectors. For consumers like us, what matters is whether it’s practical.

Unlike Lightning’s single-sided 8 pins, Type-C has 12 pins on one side, four more than Lightning. These additional pins address several issues found in Lightning, such as low charging power and slow data transfer.

Here’s the pinout diagram for Type-C. The upper image shows the plug cross-section, while the lower image shows the socket cross-section.

For a more detailed pinout definition, please refer to the image below.

(Image source: wikipedia.org)

Comparing the definition of the Apple Lightning interface mentioned earlier, it’s starting to look quite similar. No wonder Apple persisted in using it for so long, waiting until the EU regulation came into effect. It seems they had some pride at stake.

Whether you believe it or not, technology also involves politics. In the latest iPhone 15, even a company as wealthy as Apple has humbled itself in the face of politics. But the advantages of switching to Type-C are substantial, with data transfer speeds skyrocketing, reaching 20 times the file transfer speed. Type-C has become one of the most anticipated features after the 3nm A17 chip.

With a combination of strengths and robust support, USB Type-C has finally achieved dominance and is set to rule the tech world. The era when one cable does it all is finally upon us!