[cactusplant7374]

It is more satisfying to plug in a lightning cable. I know it sounds crazy. I can’t explain it.

I don’t care about charging speeds or data transfer speeds. When it is done, it’s done. Until then I will find something else to do or use it while charging.

[zevon]

That's not crazy at all. If you look at a male lightning connector, you can see detents at the sides that snap into a (spring-loaded) retaining mechanism on the female side. USB-C doesn't have anything like that which results in less tactile satisfaction.

[frosted-flakes]

USB-C uses an identical spring mechanism, actually, except the cord is the female side, and the port is male.

[brookst]

I don’t think this is correct? GP is talking about the indentations on the side of the male lightning connector, which get gripped from the side by the device. I don’t think the center tab on USB-C has those same features, nor do the cables have the grippy things.

I’d welcome correction. Certainly if those features are there they don’t feel the same. Lightning has a very satisfying snick.

[frosted-flakes]

If you look closely, you can see the springy retention clips in the plug. Below is a Stack Overflow answer with more details, it includes a link to the USB-C spec where you can also see the corresponding notches in the male part of the receptacle.

https://superuser.com/questions/1577898/how-does-the-retaini...

Also, some good USB-C cables have a very similar click to Lightning, including Apple's own USB-C cables. Lightning and USB-C are essentially the same design, except USB-C adds an automotive-style shroud around the male side.

[zevon]

Interesting. I stand corrected and thanks for the links! Seems I didn't look hard enough at my USB-C cables. Now I'm curious - like the person I responded to, I always felt that Lightning is more tactile and more consistent than USB-C (including Apple's own USB-C cables) and I wonder why that is. Maybe the Lightning spring is beefier or something?

[SchemaLoad]

Lightning plugs in with a pretty hefty thunk. While USB-C is a light click.

[frosted-flakes]

That depends on the cable. Apple's USB-C cables in particular have a very tactile non-squidgy click.

[esseph]

You just want what, magnetic connectorized charging?

[__mharrison__]

I have magnetized adapters for most of my USB C devices. I've had a USB C port fail on a phone in the past.

They are very easy to use and have a satisfying snap when the cord connects.

My only issue with them is that we were recently at Great Sand Dunes National Park and my phone fell into the sand. The magnetic adapter was covered with sand (which wasn't too hard to clean) and very smart metallic bits that stick to the magnet. They were difficult and annoying to remove and prevented the adapter from connecting.

I guess on the plus side they protected the original port. I was able to remove the magnetic adapters and charge the phone with classic USB C.

I guess I do have two issues. The adapter on my MBP is very particular about the cable I use. And the adapter, that supports high speed data transfer and charging, appears to be directional. Although the plug seems to be symmetric, in practice it doesn't work on both sides.

[bee_rider]

Actually if they’d put a little magnet at the back of a USB (whatever type) port, that would be satisfying as heck. Like the computer is actively grabbing whatever you plugged in.

[avhon1]

I fear magnets inside the connector would draw ferrous debris into the connector. I'd really rather that not happen!

[bee_rider]

Oh, that is a good point. Springs it is, then.