USB-C vs Lightning
How do USB-C and Lightning compare side by side?
| USB-C | Lightning | |
|---|---|---|
| Defined by | USB-IF standard | Apple |
| First appeared | Specification published August 2014 | September 2012, with the iPhone 5 |
| Pins | 24 | 8 |
| Size | About 8.34 by 2.56 mm | About 6.7 by 1.5 mm |
| Plug orientation | Reversible, per the USB-IF | Reversible |
| Rated insertion cycles | 10,000 (Wikipedia) | Not given on the pages we checked |
| Charges an iPhone | Yes. The iPhone 17 lists charging | Yes, per Apple’s cable page |
| Data speed on Apple’s pages | USB 2, up to 480 Mb/s (iPhone 17) | Up to 480Mbps (USB 2) via the USB-C to Lightning adapter |
| Highest power | Up to 240W with USB Power Delivery 3.1 | Apple gives its USB-C to Lightning adapter a maximum of 24W when charging |
| Video out | DisplayPort listed for iPhone 17 | Not listed on the pages we checked |
| Who can make accessories | Anyone, with USB-IF certification available | Accessories need Apple’s approval through its MFi program |
Sources for the table are in the list at the bottom. Where a cell says the pages we checked do not give a figure, we have not guessed.
What matters day to day?
Charging. Both connectors charge an iPhone, but what you get depends on the iPhone, the charger and the cable, not the plug. The wattage guide shows each maker’s figures.
Speed. The connector does not decide data speed. A USB-C port can be limited to USB 2 speed, as the iPhone 17 specifications show. For the faster USB 3.x rates see USB 2.0 vs USB 3.x.
One cable for everything. This is the main practical gain of USB-C. The same cable and charger can serve a phone, a tablet, headphones and, with the right wattage, a laptop. The Irish government’s notice on the EU directive lists phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, headsets, game consoles, speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice and navigation systems as covered devices, with laptops added on 28 April 2026.
Accessory choice. Lightning accessories need Apple’s approval. Wikipedia says its connectors contain an authentication chip that makes it difficult for other manufacturers to build compatible accessories without that approval. USB-C accessories do not depend on one company.
Why did the iPhone switch to USB-C?
Wikipedia says the iPhone 15, released in September 2023, was the first iPhone with USB-C, following European legislation that standardised charging ports, and that by February 2025 every iPhone Apple sold had switched. The Irish government’s notice says phones sold in the EU must use USB-C from 28 December 2024. Apple still sells a USB-C to Lightning adapter so Lightning accessories can be used with a USB-C iPhone.
Which should I buy?
Buy the cable your phone’s port needs. The library check is simple: in our 41-phone library, 39 phones use USB-C and two, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, use Lightning.
| Your phone | Cable you need |
|---|---|
| iPhone 14 or older | A cable with a Lightning plug on the phone end |
| iPhone 15 or newer | A USB-C cable |
| Samsung, Google or Motorola phone in our library | A USB-C cable |
If you have both kinds of device at home, Apple’s USB-C to Lightning cable lets a USB-C charger serve the older iPhone. Read Lightning, USB-C and cable buying safety before you buy.