[hedgehog]

Lightning is a better connector for small devices and it's more durable in my experience. USB-C is way better than micro as a connector but you end up with the issue of many kinds of cables that look similar but are not interchangeable. What speed? PD support? Power only? Who knows!

Maybe switching to a less durable connector or no connector is fine given that Qi support has gotten pretty good. Most of the Lightning cables I've purchased are still in circulation, I'd prefer not to replace them.

If the EU really cared about solving a problem they'd ban micro, that connector is really fragile and totally superseded by type C.

[klempner]

There is no such thing as a C to C cable that is "power only" or doesn't support PD, unless it is grossly spec incompliant.

The minimal spec C to C cable is USB 2 data and supports power delivery with currents up to 3 amps (i.e. 60 W at 20V 3A)

This is enough for most phones, and almost all of the exceptions use proprietary charging that isn't going to work on a C to C cable anyway.

The labeling issue of all these cheap shit cables is a serious problem, but it is a nonissue in the phone charging context.

[hedgehog]

I already have three kinds of C to C cables, some that will work with my laptop+monitor and some that won't, then some power-only ones for random accessories. We can no-true-Scotsman all day but so far type C hasn't simplified my life and as far as I can tell it won't in the near future. iPhones switching for me will just mean throwing out a decade of Lightning cables and buying USB-C cables.

[klempner]

Are these "power only" C to C cables something you're explicitly going out and buying or something that comes with these random accessories?

[hedgehog]

They are charge cables that come with random accessories, I think I bought some long ones as well. Also A to C cables. As long as they're only used for low-draw devices it should be safe but requires keeping track.

[klempner]

The vast majority of C to C "charge" cables are USB 2 cables. I don't believe I have ever received or even seen a "charge only" non-captive C to C cable. A to C cables are a lot more common.

Do you have reason to believe that the C to C cables you got/bought don't support USB 2?

It doesn't make sense for a random accessory to come with a charge only C to C cable because USB 2 C to C cables are a dime a dozen. They're almost certainly paying more money to produce a spec violating cable.

[hedgehog]

They could have data support, I've never actually checked. The wires are pretty thin so I only trust them for charging the lights they came with. I have a bundle of similar looking A to mini or micro B cables of which I know many are charge-only. As long as they're super short I only rely on them being useful for charging.

[themitigating]

They are interchangeable but may not charge as fast or transfer data as fast. So they are still useful.

[hedgehog]

They're not interchangeable, of the C cables I have now some will drive my monitor and some won't, and some don't even carry data. The type C connector is a big step up vs the older micro and A+B connectors, it just doesn't really make using USB simpler or easier to figure out.

[jonny_eh]

> Lightning is a better connector for small devices it's more durable in my experience

It's less durable in my experience. I can do this all day.

[gruez]

I don't see how USB-C can be more durable considering there's a plastic post on the female side holding the pins. That's an obvious failure point.

[jonny_eh]

The large hole in the lightning female port traps lint, I have to clean it out with a toothpick every couple of weeks. USB-C's gaps are too small for lint to collect.

[toast0]

> USB-C's gaps are too small for lint to collect.

That's not true, as my phone would be happy to attest. However, I think I cleaned it in the 12-18 month range, when charging stopped working and the cable no longer clicked. There's almost certainly lint back in there, but not enough to necessitate cleaning.

[wffurr]

Black 4th pin seems like a somewhat common failure mode: https://ioshacker.com/iphone/why-the-fourth-pin-on-your-ligh...

[gruez]

Is there reason to believe it's not an issue on usb-c? On usb-c the terminals aren't exposed, so even if it did occur you wouldn't notice it.

[wffurr]

The cable stops working in one orientation, so I'd expect it to be quite noticeable. There's a few posts in that regard, so I suspect it has the same or similar problems.

Certainly doesn't seem in favor of Lightning cables being any more durable.