Fans were waiting with bated breath to see if 2021 would be the year that Apple finally ditches Lightning. With the new iPad Mini announcement, people were holding out hope that the iPhone 13 line-up would feature USB-C. But, unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Does the iPhone 13 use Lightning or USB-C?
The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max all use Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector. As Apple has switched more products over to USB-C, users have hoped that the company’s premier hardware, the iPhone, would ditch Lightning and make the transition as well. Unfortunately, the iPhone 13 line-up is sticking with the same connector it’s used since the iPhone 5 was released in 2012.
The announcement that the new iPad Mini would use USB-C moves one more product line onto this commonly used connector. Unfortunately, this means that Apple customers increasingly have to carry two types of cords with them. The MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 6, and iPad Pro lines all use USB-C, while iPhones, iPods, AirPods, and the base iPad still use Lightning. There have been rumors for years that Apple was going to drop Lightning or even drop a wired connection on the iPhone altogether, but it looks like we won’t see that change until 2022 at the earliest, if ever.
In addition to it being generally frustrating to keep track of multiple cords, Apple has come under fire for using Lighting due to e-waste. The company touts its green policies, but customers having to use various connectors means more cords have to be produced. MagSafe power somewhat allays this issue by using a USB-C connector, but it is once again a confusing choice. Why is MagSafe USB-C when the iPhone uses Lightning? Apple seems to be having trouble letting go of Lightning and continues to make odd design decisions as a result.
