If this is about lightning, what connector do you think apple should have used? ...

formerly_proven · 2025-11-16T12:38:12 1763296692

> USB-C [Aug 2014] came out long after lightning [Sep 2012].

1 year 11 months :)

The old 30-pin connector before Lightning came from 2003.

Meanwhile it took until 2023 for iPhones to use USB-C.

    30-pin     2003 - 2012 (2014)
    Lighting   2012 - 2023 (2025)
    USB-C AAPL utter mess -
               iPhone 2023 -
    USB-C RoW  2014 -

raw_anon_1111 · 2025-11-16T16:22:46 1763310166

How was USB C on Apple a “mess” when it came out on the iPhone 14? It supported all of the standard USB protocols - video, networking, mass storage, audio etc.

formerly_proven · 2025-11-16T17:01:28 1763312488

The transition to USB-C was spread out across product lines over many years, hence "mess". The iPhone is on a separate line in the table.

monerozcash · 2025-11-17T09:11:20 1763370680

Yeah, I don't think the connector criticism of Apple really stands up to any scrutiny. 30-pin was strictly better than USB-based solutions when it came out, as was Lightning. They supported both of those for a very long time and kept tons of iDevice accessories around the world functioning.