USB C vs lightning: All you need to know

You must have disputed and argued with your friends over which data cable emerges outstanding from the battle of USB C vs. lightning. If so, then this article will enlighten you with the characteristics and differences between the two types of USB cables.

Though there are other kinds of USB cables one can easily fetch, USB C and lightning have become the most sought-after USB cables in the market nowadays.

While both cables can support considerable charging and data transferring speeds, you should only opt for the one that is more compatible with your needs.

USB C vs lightning

Data transferring speed

Nonetheless, what sets USB C apart and hands it superiority over the lighting cable are the facts that, when used for data transferring, it may offer transfer speeds up to 40Gbps and USB4 support. On the other hand, lightning cables can only offer 480Mbps of data transferring speed at its best.

Utilisation

While USB C connectors can be used with any device, lightning cables are solely designed to operate with Apple products. With a single USB-C cable, you can charge your Android phone, game controllers, laptops, tablets, and more.

Both cables are primarily used for charging and digital transfers such as uploading or downloading movies, music, photos, and more, whereas they could also be used for connection, communication, and power supply.

Device compatibility

After years of producing various types of USB ports, most of the smartphone manufacturers have now settled on USB C ports considering people’s preferences towards it. Meanwhile, the lightning cable excludes Apple devices such as iPhones, AirPods, and various Apple accessories.

Most of the electronic devices being produced nowadays have consolidated on USB C cables, including Android, Windows PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, iPads (not the 9th generation iPad), and more. Not only that, they can be used in Thunderbolt 3 and 4 ports as well.

While the USB C cables were introduced in 2014, every iPhone and iPad has been supporting lightning cables since September 2012, with the exception of iPad Pro, which shifted to USB C ports after its 3rd generation models that were released in 2018.