Apple ima sklonost stvaranju vlastitih dodataka, a Lightning kabel za punjenje primjer je toga. Pitanje je – kako se nosi s USB-C^(USB-C) konektorom koji se više koristi ?

Da bude jasno, iPhone ne podržava USB-C. Bez^{(USB-C. No)} obzira na to koliko dobar smatrate USB-C standardom, ne možete se prebaciti na korištenje drugog kabela. Ipak, ovdje je hipotetska usporedba između Lightninga^(Lightning) i USB-C- a .

Lightning protiv USB-C: sažetak

Gledajući samo specifikacije, USB-C je očiti pobjednik. Nosi više snage, može mnogo brže prenositi podatke i može se povezati sa širim rasponom uređaja. Ali to je samo dio slike.

Lightning je razvio Apple kako bi ponudio tanju alternativu glomaznijem USB -u, a to vrijedi i danas. Nadalje, sami Lightning portovi su malo izdržljiviji, budući da su spojni jezičci prebačeni na Lightning konektor.

Na kraju dana, oba konektora zauzimaju vrlo različite niše. USB-C je najbolji standard za punjenje i povezivanje za uređaje koji ga podržavaju, dok Lightning napaja ultratanki iPhone kroz značajno manje priključke.

Lightning protiv USB-C: na prvi pogled

Apple Lightning	USB-C
Launched in 2012	Launched in 2014
Proprietary standard only used in Apple devices	Supported by a wide variety of devices, from smartphones to laptops
Maximum transfer speed of 480Mbps equivalent to USB 2.0	Maximum transfer speed of 40Gbps with Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4
8-pin reversible connector	24-pin reversible connector
Can provide 12 W of power, optionally extendable to 20 W with a USB-C to Lightning cable and power adapter	Can provide up to 240 W of power, with the USB Power Delivery technology enabling fast charging
Can interface with USB, HDMI, and VGA with adapters	Can interface with USB, DVI, HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort with adapters

Lightning: stariji, ali funkcionalan

Apple je osmislio Lightning standard 2012. kao poboljšanje u odnosu na prevladavajuću USB-A tehnologiju, dajući iPhoneu 5 lakši dock konektor od njegovih prethodnika. Nudeći brzine prijenosa na vrhuncu USB 2.0 ograničenja, smatralo se puno boljom alternativom od mikro USB priključaka koji se nalaze u Samsungovim telefonima.

Zatim se pojavio USB-C i odjednom se pojavila bolja standardna USB opcija. USB uređaji svih vrsta prešli su na novu tehnologiju sa svojim reverzibilnim konektorima i poboljšanim mogućnostima prijenosa.

Apple , naravno, nije mogao samo tako lako odbaciti godine rada i zadržao je stariji port. Jedina promjena bilo je uvođenje induktivnog punjenja u iPhone 8, dajući korisnicima alternativu Lightningu^(Lightning) .

Čak i sada, s USB 4 koji brzo postaje stvarnost, Apple i dalje isporučuje iPhone 13 s Lightning priključcima, ignorirajući kritike javnosti zbog njihove nevoljkosti da usvoje bolju tehnologiju. I dok će nova direktiva EU-a za smanjenje e-otpada osiguravanjem univerzalnih standarda na kraju prisiliti Apple da se pridržava, još su godine prije nego što postane obvezujuća.

USB-C: zbunjujući korak u pravom smjeru^{(Right Direction)}

Glavni problem s USB-C je zbunjujuća terminologija. Ova nova varijacija USB standarda postoji uz standardne numerirane verzije, stvarajući više verzija s različitim brzinama i značajkama^{(multiple versions with differing speeds and features)} .

Jedina stvar koju podrazumijeva USB Type-C je fizički dizajn konektora – stvarne specifikacije ovise o tome koju verziju USB-a ili Thunderbolta^{( USB or Thunderbolt)} odabere implementirati. Na primjer, verzije koje podržavaju Thunderbolt 3 mogu dati brzine prijenosa od 40 Gbps, s uobičajenim USB 3.1 koji ima 10 Gbps.

Čak i USB 3.0 standard nudi brzine prijenosa podataka od 5 Gbps , što je ogromna nadogradnja u odnosu na 480 Mbps Apple Lightninga . Ova veća propusnost također omogućuje USB-C konektorima povezivanje s DisplayPort^{(USB-C connectors to interface with DisplayPort)} A/V streamovima u 8K rezoluciji.

Faktor snage

Da se razumijemo – nitko više ne koristi te kabele za prijenos podataka. Mnogo je praktičnije prenositi podatke putem bežične mreže. Jedina preostala upotreba ovih standarda je za punjenje.

USB-C standard dizajniran je imajući to na umu. Konektori koji koriste tehnologiju USB Power Delivery mogu dati do 100 W snage, što je dovoljno za napajanje čak i prijenosnih računala i konzola, a o mobilnim uređajima da i ne govorimo. Najnovija verzija tehnologije može ponuditi 240 W, što će se tek vidjeti u praksi.

Lightning, s druge strane, može upravljati samo s mizernih 12 W. Možete koristiti USB-C na Lightning kabel uz strujni adapter kako biste istisnuli 20 W^{(use a USB-C to Lightning cable alongside a power adapter to squeeze out 20 W)} , ali to je sve. To znači da se iOS uređaji pune puno sporije od najnovijih Android telefona, čak i uz brzo punjenje.

Zašto Apple ne koristi USB-C?

Ako je USB-C standard tako veliki napredak u odnosu na stariji Lightning , zašto Apple ne prijeđe na novu tehnologiju? Manje dobrotvorno gledište sve bi pripisalo pohlepi, iako mislimo da je ovdje u igri nešto više.

Pravo mjesto, krivo vrijeme

Prvo što treba imati na umu je da je Lightning lansiran dvije godine prije USB-C . To znači da je tehnologija već bila integrirana u iPhone i koristila se prije nego što je Apple dobio priliku implementirati noviju verziju USB -a .

Kao rezultat toga, prelazak na USB-C značio bi odbacivanje Lightninga^(Lightning) samo nekoliko godina nakon njegovog uspješnog lansiranja, zadajući veliki udarac proizvođačima koji već proizvode punjače i kabele. Tako je Apple ostao stabilan.

Neograničena snaga, ali ograničena potreba

Drugi faktor je korisnost. Lightning je prvenstveno namijenjen punjenju iPhonea, au tom je poslu prilično dobar. Naravno^(Sure) , USB-C kabel mogao bi nositi više energije, ali iPhoneu uopće nije potrebno toliko energije. Dakle, malo se može dobiti prelaskom na drugačiji standard.

U uređajima gdje bi veća snaga mogla biti korisna, Apple nije imao dvojbe oko dodavanja USB-C priključaka. Da ne spominjemo da su Appleovi^(Apple) uređaji kao što su iPad Pro i MacBook Pro^{(iPad Pro and MacBook Pro)} također mnogo veći i lako mogu primiti veći priključak bez problema.

Bežična veza je budućnost

Kada ste zadnji put stvarno povezali svoj telefon s računalom da biste prenijeli datoteku? Bežične^(Wireless) veze već su postale norma, prebacujući žične tehnologije samo na ulogu punjenja.

A s porastom opcija bežičnog punjenja kao što je ^{(wireless charging)}MagSafe , čak i ta upotreba blijedi. Moguće je da Apple planira jednostavno ukinuti sve oblike priključaka u budućnosti, čineći iPhone potpuno bežičnim uređajem.

Lightning ili USB-C: Koji^(Which) je bolji standard^{(Better Standard)} ?

U zamišljenom telefonu koji sadrži oba priključka, priključivanje USB-C kabela pametna je odluka. Ne samo da USB-C može brže prenositi podatke, već može i prenijeti više energije, brže puneći telefon.

Lightning je zastarjeli standard koji je živ i aktivan samo zahvaljujući izoliranoj prirodi Appleovog^(Apple) tehnološkog ekosustava i relativno malim potrebama za energijom Appleovih^(Apple) proizvoda poput iPhonea ili iPoda. Snažniji uređaji poput Macbooka već koriste USB-C^{(Macbook are already using USB-C)} s velikim učinkom.

Iz valjanih razloga ili ne, Appleovo oklijevanje da nadogradi priključke za punjenje iPhonea nikome se nije dopalo. Samo će vrijeme pokazati hoće li tvrtka konačno trepnuti ili će se potpuno odmaknuti od žičanog punjenja.

Lightning vs USB C: What’s Different (And Which Is Better)?

Apple has a propenѕity for creating its own proprietary accessories, and the Lіghtning charging cable is an example of this. Τhe question is – how does it fare against the more widely used USB-C conneсtor?

To be clear, iPhones do not support USB-C. No matter how excellent you find the USB-C standard to be, you cannot switch to using a different cable. Still, here is a hypothetical comparison between Lightning and USB-C.

Lightning vs USB-C: The Rundown

Going by the specifications alone, USB-C is the clear winner. It carries more power, can transmit data much faster, and can connect with a wider range of devices. But that’s only part of the picture.

Lightning was developed by Apple to offer a slimmer alternative to the bulkier USB, and that remains true even today. Furthermore, Lightning ports themselves are a bit more durable, since the connecting tabs have been offloaded to the lightning connector.

At the end of the day, both connectors occupy very different niches. USB-C is the best charging and connectivity standard for the devices that support it, while Lightning powers the ultra-slim iPhone through significantly smaller ports.

Lightning vs USB-C: At a Glance

Apple Lightning	USB-C
Launched in 2012	Launched in 2014
Proprietary standard only used in Apple devices	Supported by a wide variety of devices, from smartphones to laptops
Maximum transfer speed of 480Mbps equivalent to USB 2.0	Maximum transfer speed of 40Gbps with Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4
8-pin reversible connector	24-pin reversible connector
Can provide 12 W of power, optionally extendable to 20 W with a USB-C to Lightning cable and power adapter	Can provide up to 240 W of power, with the USB Power Delivery technology enabling fast charging
Can interface with USB, HDMI, and VGA with adapters	Can interface with USB, DVI, HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort with adapters

Lightning: Older, But Functional

Apple devised the Lightning standard in 2012 as an improvement over the prevalent USB-A technology, giving the iPhone 5 a leaner dock connector than its predecessors. Offering transfer speeds at the peak of USB 2.0’s limits, it was considered a much better alternative than micro USB ports found in Samsung’s phones.

Then the USB-C came out, and suddenly, there was a better standard USB option. USB devices of all sorts switched to the new technology with its reversible connectors and improved transfer capabilities.

Apple, of course, couldn’t just discard years of work so easily and kept the older port. The only change was the introduction of inductive charging in the iPhone 8, giving users an alternative to Lightning.

Even now, with USB 4 quickly becoming a reality, Apple is still shipping the iPhone 13 with Lightning ports, ignoring public criticism over their reluctance to adopt better technology. And while the EU’s new directive to reduce e-waste by ensuring universal standards will eventually force Apple to fall into line, there are still years to go before it becomes binding.

USB-C: A Confusing Step in the Right Direction

The main problem with USB-C is the confusing terminology. This new variation in the USB standard exists alongside the standard numbered versions, creating multiple versions with differing speeds and features.

The only thing implied by USB Type-C is the physical design of the connector – the actual specs depend on which version of USB or Thunderbolt it chooses to implement. For example, versions supporting Thunderbolt 3 can give transfer speeds of 40Gbps, with the more common USB 3.1 capable of 10Gbps.

Even the USB 3.0 standard offers data transfer speeds of 5 Gbps, which is a whopping upgrade from Apple Lightning’s 480 Mbps. This higher bandwidth also allows USB-C connectors to interface with DisplayPort A/V streams at 8K resolution.

The Power Factor

Let’s face it – no one uses these cables for data transfer anymore. It is much more convenient to transfer the data through a wireless network. The only remaining use of these standards is for charging.

The USB-C standard has been designed with this in mind. Connectors leveraging the USB Power Delivery technology can supply up to 100 W of power, which is enough to power even laptops and consoles, to say nothing about mobile devices. The latest version of the technology can offer 240 W, which is yet to be seen much in practice.

Lightning, on the other hand, can just manage a measly 12 W. You can use a USB-C to Lightning cable alongside a power adapter to squeeze out 20 W, but that’s all. This means iOS devices charge much slower than the latest Android phones, even with fast charging.

Why Doesn’t Apple Use USB-C?

If the USB-C standard is such a big improvement over the older Lightning, why doesn’t Apple migrate to the new technology? A less charitable view would attribute it all to greed, though we think there is more at play here.

Right Place, Wrong Time

The first thing to keep in mind is that Lightning was launched two years before USB-C. This means that the technology was already integrated into iPhones and being used before Apple got a chance to implement the newer version of USB.

As a result, making the switch to USB-C would mean ditching Lightning merely a few years after its successful launch, dealing a big blow to manufacturers already producing the chargers and cables. So Apple kept steady.

Unlimited Power, But Limited Need

Another factor is the utility. Lightning is primarily meant for charging iPhones, and it is pretty good at this job. Sure, a USB-C cable could carry more power, but iPhones don’t need that much power in the first place. So there is little to be gained by transitioning to a different standard.

In devices where the bigger wattage could be beneficial, Apple had no qualms about adding USB-C ports. Not to mention that Apple devices like the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro are also much bigger, and can easily accommodate the larger port size without issues.

Wireless Is the Future

When was the last time when you actually connected your phone to a PC to transfer a file? Wireless connections have already become the norm, relegating wired technologies to the role of charging alone.

And with the rise of wireless charging options like MagSafe, even that use case is fading. It is possible that Apple plans to simply do away with all forms of ports in the future, making the iPhone a completely wireless device.

Lightning or USB-C: Which Is the Better Standard?

In an imaginary phone that contains both ports, plugging in a USB-C cable is the smart decision. Not only can USB-C transfer data more rapidly, but it can also transmit more power, charging the phone faster as well.

Lightning is an obsolete standard that is only alive and kicking thanks to the insulated nature of Apple’s tech ecosystem, and the relatively low power needs of Apple products like the iPhone or the iPod. More powerful devices like the Macbook are already using USB-C to great effect.

For valid reasons or not, Apple’s reluctance to upgrade the iPhone’s charging ports hasn’t endeared it to anyone. Only time would tell if the company will finally blink or just step away from wired charging entirely.

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