[txcwpalpha]

Regarding your first point, it’s true that the part that wears out in Lightning is in the port, but on the flip side, the port of the USB-C is much more fragile (the internal “tongue” or whatever you want to call it is prone to breakage). There might be some hard data available on breakage rates, but anecdotally I’d say it’s really a wash in terms of durability.

However, where USB-C is really indisputably better than Lightning is that it has 3x the amount of pins (24 in USB-C vs 8 in Lightning), which will always mean that USB-C will be able to outperform Lightning significantly.

[mmastrac]

I'm curious to hear more on this. I have a number of USB-C devices and have never seen breakage on the internal port (only fluff buildup).

I had a Macbook where the power cord got stepped on, the cable head turned 45º or so and continued to function with no port damage whatsoever.

[m0xte]

My wife broke the USB C port on my T470 when she threw a cushion at me (i was winding her up over something). It tore the connector shell off the board and lifted traces when the cushion landed fairly lightly on it after hitting me. Fortunately it has an old style charging port so I just use that. I didn’t use it for anything else.

But cheap USB-C connectors are crap. And USB-C connectors that are mounted on the motherboard of the device are a sin (Apple don’t do this - well done Apple!)

[Ballas]

That really does seem like an implementation issue and not a connector standard issue. Connectors should at least be secured with through-hole pins for the casing IMHO.

[m0xte]

They were on this machine. 4 through hole anchors. The shell deformed and ripped the other pins out. The issue is the mechanical leverage vs an 8 layer board vs connector sizing.

[lostlogin]

I've got a sad single port macbook on my desk here that has issues as the plug hole seems to have got wider and it doesn't make connections reliably with cables that plug into monitors.

[txcwpalpha]

I don’t know how it happened (never dropped it or yanked the cord hard or anything like that), but I’ve had the little USB-C tongue thing get a slightly bent downwards in the port which made it very difficult to plug in. I’ve seen a lot of other comments on the internet about how it breaks easily (it’s a common argument whenever this topic comes up on r/Android or r/Apple). I’ve never personally had a port fully break on me, but I could see it happening.

[improbable22]

Anyone have long-run comparisons on fluff buildup? Hard to gauge changes in clothing / cases / etc I guess, unless you literally live with two phones.

[ksec]

I think Apple has its priority correct. We can make the pins inside iPhone extremely durable to the point when wear out happens you should be buying a new phone. Instead of having the tongue inside the Phone which could easily break the whole thing. So to me Lightning is still the better design.

Lightning can do USB 3.0 / 5Gbps, and I could see it possibly support 10Gbps with USB 3.2 2x1. But the problem is the first one operate at 2.5Ghz range which is known to course interference with WiFI and USB 3.2 is operating at close to 5Ghz.

I think on iPhone the problem may be bigger due to how closely packed they are. ( But I could be wrong )

[kps]

> when wear out happens you should be buying a new phone

That may indeed by Apple's priority, but it's not mine.

[ksec]

Well my iPhone 6 lightning port is till working fine. That is closing to 6 years now. So I think Lightning Port is doing pretty well so far.