[moonchild]

> the part that wears out is inside the phone in Lightning and inside the cable in USB-C

Can't speak to USB-C, but this is definitely a problem with lighting. I've had two phones usimply stop charging, presumably because the internal connector had worn out. Battery was fine, but there was no way to charge it.

[robin_reala]

Typically it’s not that the port dies but that it fills up with compacted lint to the point that the power pins can no longer make a connection. A careful pick around with a SIM tray tool usually revives it.

[wrycoder]

Right. If the tongue doesn't "snap" into position, but just mushes, the socket needs cleaning. You'll be amazed at the difference.

You can try with one of those dental picks that looks like a tiny pine tree. But, the last time I cleaned mine I needed a metal pick and a magnifying glass. That stuff really gets compacted. Be careful of the internal pins!

[_jal]

Same - I have an old simless phone that I use for banking and other sensitive apps. It only charges when the cable is just so.

Socket wear is definitely a design failure. Hoping it holds up until I end up replacing my current leaves-the-house phone.

[djrogers]

I can pretty much guarantee that it’s not socket wear, but a buildup of lint/dust etc. I’ve got an original iPhone 5s whose lighting port still works perfectly. Needs to be cleaned out every now and then, but it’s durable as balls.

[_jal]

Thanks, but that's simply not the case.

The socket is clean, lint was the first thing I checked when it started happening. The uneven wear on the socket sheath is clearly visible under a magnifier. (This is a 6S.)