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USB-C is great but the Lightning connector is still better designed. Oh and you can downvote me all you want, I'm an electrical engineer, not an Apple fanboy. D

by petre 6y ago

USB-C is great but the Lightning connector is still better designed. Oh and you can downvote me all you want, I'm an electrical engineer, not an Apple fanboy. Don't like the phone. Anyway, they should at least include a cable.

fastball 6y ago
Disagree. I have had frequent issues with lint and other detritus collecting in Lightning ports, causing the device to no longer be able to charge until it is cleaned out. I haven't had that with USB-C (or any other type of port for that matter). Also USB-C can charge my computer. Lightning cannot. The entire reason I want something like USB-C is so that I can do everything with one cable. Lightning is not up to the task.
- petre 6y ago
  Well, with USB-C you've got two holes that can fill up with junk, not just one. The Lightning port is at least easy to clean with common household items: toothpick and ear swabs.
Aloha 6y ago
I agree with you, the Lighting connector is more mechanically durable in general.
blackguardx 6y ago
I disagree and think the USB-C connector is better designed. Exposing electrical contacts to the environment like on the Lightning connector is bad for several reasons, including increased risk of static electricity damage and wear on the exposed electrical contacts. Apple has gone to great lengths to reduce or eliminate the static electricity risk by integrating a special IC into the cable. The contact wear issue has not been addressed by them. Many of the cables I have show signs of eroded contacts and I think that is the main reason why some cables of mine have failed. The USB-C connector surrounds the contacts with a mechanical shield that protects them from fingers or anything else. This is a standard connector design that has been used on pretty much every connector. It is boring, but it works. The Lightning is great engineering, but is ultimately let down by the radical design IMHO. BTW, I am also an electrical engineer that has designed MFI accessories and uses iPhones.
- ThatPlayer 6y ago
  I think mechanically, the Lightning port is fine, my issues with it are more about how it requires an expensive active converter to output HDMI. A lightning to HDMI adapter really has a decoder as the phone streams compressed video to it. Which lowers the quality and raises the price.
- petre 6y ago
  The lightning connector shield pin 9 also surronds the rest of the contacts in a horizontal plane and is connected to the USB type A connector ground. It's not a signal ground but rather interconnects both devices cases through the shield. Regarding the contact wear issue, I'd much rather have my cable connector contacts wear off than the female connector contacts on the device. The cable is a less expensive replaceable part. So the mechanical and electrical design of the connector is sound.

by petre 6y ago

fastball 6y ago

Disagree. I have had frequent issues with lint and other detritus collecting in Lightning ports, causing the device to no longer be able to charge until it is cleaned out. I haven't had that with USB-C (or any other type of port for that matter). Also USB-C can charge my computer. Lightning cannot. The entire reason I want something like USB-C is so that I can do everything with one cable. Lightning is not up to the task.

petre 6y ago
Well, with USB-C you've got two holes that can fill up with junk, not just one. The Lightning port is at least easy to clean with common household items: toothpick and ear swabs.

Aloha 6y ago

I agree with you, the Lighting connector is more mechanically durable in general.

blackguardx 6y ago

I disagree and think the USB-C connector is better designed. Exposing electrical contacts to the environment like on the Lightning connector is bad for several reasons, including increased risk of static electricity damage and wear on the exposed electrical contacts. Apple has gone to great lengths to reduce or eliminate the static electricity risk by integrating a special IC into the cable. The contact wear issue has not been addressed by them. Many of the cables I have show signs of eroded contacts and I think that is the main reason why some cables of mine have failed. The USB-C connector surrounds the contacts with a mechanical shield that protects them from fingers or anything else. This is a standard connector design that has been used on pretty much every connector. It is boring, but it works. The Lightning is great engineering, but is ultimately let down by the radical design IMHO. BTW, I am also an electrical engineer that has designed MFI accessories and uses iPhones.

ThatPlayer 6y ago
I think mechanically, the Lightning port is fine, my issues with it are more about how it requires an expensive active converter to output HDMI. A lightning to HDMI adapter really has a decoder as the phone streams compressed video to it. Which lowers the quality and raises the price.
petre 6y ago
The lightning connector shield pin 9 also surronds the rest of the contacts in a horizontal plane and is connected to the USB type A connector ground. It's not a signal ground but rather interconnects both devices cases through the shield. Regarding the contact wear issue, I'd much rather have my cable connector contacts wear off than the female connector contacts on the device. The cable is a less expensive replaceable part. So the mechanical and electrical design of the connector is sound.