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According to this https://www.cultofmac.com/790897/today-in-apple-history-lightning-replaces-30-pin-dock-connector/ https://www.cultofmac.com/790897/today-in-ap

According to this https://www.cultofmac.com/790897/today-in-apple-history-lightning-replaces-30-pin-dock-connector/ https://www.cultofmac.com/790897/today-in-apple-history-ligh... it was supposed to be USB 3.0 but there was only one device that utilized USB3.0 speeds: "Apple’s connector supported USB 3.0 host, but the only accessory that fully supported this feature was the camera adapter that includes a USB-A port. Most Lightning cables to this day support only USB 2.0, with a maximum data transfer speed of 60MBps." I seem to recall when lightning was announced, someone (probably Steve) said it was faster than the 30 pin. Then again Steve was known to blow smoke of products (remember, FaceTime was open source according to Steve when announced).

lxgr 3y ago
Lightning supports two data lanes, so it's theoretically capable of USB 3 speeds. However, that would have required active/negotiating Lightning-to-USB-3 cables or adapters, since USB 3 requires three lanes, i.e. one more (two for SuperSpeed connections, and one for legacy USB 2.0 high speed connections), and the adapter/cable would have to figure out which one the connected host wants to speak and wire accordingly. At least one iPad does support USB 3 speeds over Lightning, but only in the other direction, i.e. when acting as an USB host using the "Lightning to USB camera adapter", which was really a generic USB host adapter and supported many more types of devices like audio interfaces, hard drives etc. – I suspect that adapter must be doing just that.
- Dylan16807 3y ago
  > the adapter/cable would have to figure out which one the connected host wants to speak and wire accordingly There are two straightforward ways to avoid that and allow passive adapters/cables. 1. Use the two "Identification/control" pins to run the low speed lane. 2. Use both sides when supporting USB 3.

lxgr 3y ago

Lightning supports two data lanes, so it's theoretically capable of USB 3 speeds. However, that would have required active/negotiating Lightning-to-USB-3 cables or adapters, since USB 3 requires three lanes, i.e. one more (two for SuperSpeed connections, and one for legacy USB 2.0 high speed connections), and the adapter/cable would have to figure out which one the connected host wants to speak and wire accordingly. At least one iPad does support USB 3 speeds over Lightning, but only in the other direction, i.e. when acting as an USB host using the "Lightning to USB camera adapter", which was really a generic USB host adapter and supported many more types of devices like audio interfaces, hard drives etc. – I suspect that adapter must be doing just that.

Dylan16807 3y ago
> the adapter/cable would have to figure out which one the connected host wants to speak and wire accordingly There are two straightforward ways to avoid that and allow passive adapters/cables. 1. Use the two "Identification/control" pins to run the low speed lane. 2. Use both sides when supporting USB 3.