Why doesn’t the iPhone use USB-C instead of Lightning?

USB-C is increasingly the standard for electronics, including Apple's MacBooks. So why isn't it standard on the iPhone?

USB-C is sweeping the device world, becoming the one cable to really rule them all. Apple has gone all-in on it with the Mac, including only a single USB-C port on the MacBook, and only two to four hybrid USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 ports on the new MacBook Pro. While Android manufacturers begun switching to USB-C on phones and tablets as well, Apple has stuck to their own, proprietary Lightning cable for mobile.

Why didn't Apple use USB-C instead of Lightning?

That one's easy. There was no USB-C back in 2012 when Apple shipped Lightning on iPhone 5. It didn't exist. The spec wasn't even finalized until August of 2014.

Why didn't Apple just wait for USB-C, then?

Assuming Apple could count on USB-C being finalized and shipping without any further delays, it would still have cost them years and literally made everything from iPhone 5 to iPad mini and iPad Air impossible to ship the way Apple wanted to ship them.

Let's rewind. When the original iPhone was introduced, it was with a 30-pin Dock connector. That was a proprietary connector Apple built for iPod back in 2002, but iPod was so popular and ubiquitous, and the 30-pin so capable for its time, that it was more of a feature than failing.

As the years went on, though, and the 30-pin Dock connector became increasingly outdated, Apple needed something better. There's only so many times you can rewire pins for new connection standards like HDMI, and engineer around something as massive as the Dock connector, after all.

Back then, USB was still a mess. There was standard USB-A, miniUSB, and microUSB. The latter two especially offered advantages of size, since they were tiny and tinier, but that wasn't enough. Apple wanted something modern, something that could carry them another 10 years, not just a stop gap they'd have to replace and then replace again.

So, years before USB-C was even a glimmer in nerd's eyes, Apple began work on Lightning. It was designed to be symmetrical and less frustrating to plug in, and purely digital, so it could adapt to new standards and be more future-proof.

What about now, though? Could iPhone be switched to USB-C now?

Apple can do anything with iPhone they want, including switching it to USB-C any time they want. There are a few things to consider, though.

1. USB-C is physically bigger than Lightning. It's not a lot bigger but when you're fighting for every millimeter of space, bigger is the opposite of better. Apple didn't ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack to to "spend" the space on USB-C. Here's a diagram showing the difference, rendered by Josh Flowers:

   

2. USB-C is a standard which, while more open and compatible, is also less flexible. With Lightning, Apple can do whatever they want, whenever they want. That means, if some cool new technology emerges next year, Apple can implement it immediately without having to wait for a standards body to study and come to some agreement on implementing it… or not.

3. USB-C would require another port change for customers and most people weren't very happy with the last one. It was 10 years between Dock and Lightning and only 5 years since Lightning. For most people, those who aren't nerds, there's little advantage to the change. With a billion devices on the market, Lightning is ubiquitous enough now that everyone has it.

So, USB-C would have to offer considerable advantages for Apple to want to go through another connector transition.

Isn't Lightning just a way for Apple to control accessories and tax accessory makers?

Apple certainly enjoys control and is good at making a profit. Control, though, is often done to ensure user experience. When you look at just how problematic USB-C has been in terms of defective and destructive cables flooding the market, it makes some level of control and quality assurance beneficial.

There'll always be knock-offs, and online retailers have to do a better job about preventing their sale, but no human should ever have to worry about a cable destroying their device or causing property or personal damage.

So, TL;DR, will iPhone ever go USB-C?

The Lightning team at Apple helped build USB-C, which is why there are so many similarities and why Apple has gone all-in on it for the Mac. Whenever, if ever, it makes sense — and is worth the transition cost — for iPhone and/or iPad, we'll see Apple go all-in on it there as well.

There will always be new standards. microUSB-C could be a thing one day. If and when it lines up right, I'd love to see it. If only so that we really, truly, have one cable to rule them all.

(With appropriate dongles for everything older, of course…)