Apple Vision Pro shows the Lightning port isn’t dead yet as it returns in a bigger form. However, Apple fans aren’t very happy.
Apple’s Lightning connector is supposed to be a thing of past. Apple phased out the Lightning port in 2023 for the iPhone, introducing the iPhone 15 series with a USB-C port. However, it seems the Cupertino company will not let its proprietary port turn into dust just yet.
As discovered by Ray Wong of Inverse, Apple has hidden a Lightning connector in the external battery that ships with the Vision Pro. Mind you, this is not your usual connector but a large 12-pin version which fans are jokingly calling the “final boss” of Lightning cables.
Lightning connector returns all beefed up
Wong used a sim ejector tool to push into a small hole in the cable that connects the Vision Pro battery pack to the headset. It appears to be fixed in place, but the journalist uncovered that not only can it be removed if required, but it also hides a Lightning connector that everyone thought Apple had phased out.
l used a SIM card push pin to "unlock" the cable connected to the Apple Vision Pro battery pack. It popped right out. pic.twitter.com/tShScpMlvr
— Ray Wong (@raywongy) January 31, 2024
Ray Wong’s discovery left fans baffled. Commenting on the journalist’s post, many fans expressed their surprise. YouTuber Marques Brownlee said, “lol Lightning just will not die,” while X user @Qeuix_ commented, “That’s hilarious. Apple is definitely trolling the EU if that’s a 12-pin Lightning port.”
Another X user said, “Weird! Would it have killed them to make it a standard plug that works with a standard power bank?”
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Apple was forced to phase out the Lightning port by EU. A USB-C port replaces the Lightning port and allows the iPhone, iPad, and Mac to use the same power cable. It should be noted that battery pack on the Vision Pro also has a USB-C port that can be used with a USB-C cable for charging.
It’s puzzling why Apple didn’t just go with a USB-C connector for the Vision Pro, especially since its battery mostly handles power.
Lightning port vs USB-C
USB-C and Lightning are not the same. While the former is used on many consumer electronics, including the best Android phones, the latter is only seen in iPhones.
USB-C is widely regarded as the current standard for both charging and data transfer. It boasts a higher power delivery rate compared to Lightning, providing a faster charge at the same voltage. While Lightning supports a maximum current of 2.4A, USB-C can handle 3A with the capability to support up to 5A.