Apple has switched to a Type-C charging port! The newly released iPhone finally adopts the Type-C interface. In 2022, the European Parliament voted in favor of making Type-C the mandatory universal charging port for various consumer devices by 2024, forcing Apple to switch to Type-C on iPhones and other devices still using Lightning[7].
So, what are the advantages of Type-C over Lightning?
**The History and Limitations of Lightning**
Apple had been using the Lightning interface for 11 years since the iPhone 5[7]. At the time, the Lightning interface was technologically and experientially superior to the Micro-USB interface that was mainstream among Android phones, and its reversible design also improved its lifespan.
However, today, the traditional Lightning interface of the iPhone is clearly outdated. The Lightning interface can now only be used for Apple phones, and its speed is still stuck in the USB 2.0 era, with data transfer rates and charging power far inferior to Type-C[1][8]. At the same time, Apple's Lightning interface is not cheap, with an ordinary half-meter-long data cable costing 145 RMB, which is significantly higher than many third-party brands.
**The Advantages of Type-C**
The Type-C interface is versatile, highly compatible, and affordable[1]. In addition to improving efficiency, the Type-C interface helps reduce waste[1].
* **Data Transfer Speeds** USB-C supports USB 3.1 speeds up to 10 Gbps, enabling very fast syncing and connections to high-resolution displays[1]. Lightning is limited to USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps, making it much slower for data transfers[1]. USB-C can reach up to a transfer speed of 40Gbps as it supports USB 4.0 standards[3].
* **Power Delivery** USB-C has a higher maximum power delivery of up to 100 watts, while Lightning’s 20 watts is enough to rapidly charge all current iPhones and iPads[1]. USB-C has a maximum power delivery of 100 watts at native 3A current, and it can also reach up to 5A current to deliver 240-watt of power[3].
* **Durability** A USB-C cable can be connected and disconnected up to 10,000 times before it breaks down[3]. Lightning connectors are highly durable, rated for over 10,000 insertions without failure for the cable[1].
**MFi Certification**
The Lightning data cable has a built-in chip. After connecting to the iPhone, the system reads this chip to confirm whether it is officially authorized. This official authorization is the MFi (Made For iPhone) certification. It is a strict certification and authorization standard set by Apple for third-party accessory manufacturers. Manufacturers must obtain authorization to produce accessories for Apple devices.
According to 21st Century Business Herald, Foxconn has begun mass production of Type-C cables with MFi certification. In other words, Apple has not abandoned MFi certification on the new Type-C cables, so ordinary Type-C cables still cannot be used for iPhones.
**Malicious Charging Cables**
A security researcher named MG designed a seemingly ordinary USB-C to Lightning charging cable, but it actually contains a chip, WiFi, and a keylogger that can monitor any type of device and access all commands.
This cable, called O.MG Cable, contains a chip, WiFi function, a web server, and a keylogger, as well as the ability to remotely control the mouse and keyboard of the computer it is connected to. The O.MG cable works by creating a Wi-Fi hotspot that hackers can connect to from their own devices and then start recording keystrokes through an ordinary web browser interface.
MG stated that Type-C cables allow the same attacks on smartphones and tablets. Other improvements include the ability to change keyboard mappings and the ability to forge the identity of specific USB devices, such as pretending to be a device that exploits specific vulnerabilities on the system.
Hak5 mass-produced this malicious cable and added some other features, such as keylogging. The Keylogger Edition can store up to 650,000 keystrokes on the inserted computer and can also inject keystroke scripts into smartphones and tablets.
To mitigate risks, Apple recommends only using Apple-certified accessories with the MFi logo. The MFi logo on the product packaging indicates that the cable is certified by Apple.
Citations:
[1] https://eu.ugreen.com/blogs/cable/type-c-vs-lightning-cable
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-lightning-cable/
[3] https://www.bytecable.com/usb-c-vs-lightning/
[4] https://www.anker.com/blogs/cables/is-usb-c-the-same-as-lightning
[5] https://www.lumafield.com/article/usb-c-cable-charger-head-to-head-comparison-apple-thunderbolt-amazon-basics
[6] https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/chargers/which-charging-cables-last-longest-a2032406624/
[7] https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/16/23872237/apple-iphone-15-usb-c-switch-guide
[8] https://www.lifewire.com/usb-c-vs-lightning-5206813
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