[News Terms] iPhone 15 Changes Charging Method... Replaces 'Lightning' with 'USB-C'

Apple's iPhone 15 series, unveiled on the 12th (local time), is the first smartphone to feature a 'USB-C' charging port.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Until now, Android smartphones, including Samsung Electronics' Galaxy series, have adopted USB-C charging ports. However, Apple had consistently stuck to the Lightning charging port since the release of the iPhone 5 in 2012.

The biggest advantage of Apple's independently developed Lightning port is its symmetrical design, allowing it to work regardless of which direction it is plugged in. When the Lightning port was first introduced, the commonly used charging port was the Micro USB type, which required correct orientation because its top and bottom were distinct, causing inconvenience. The Lightning port improved ease of use and was designed smaller than the previous 30-pin charging port, making it one of the innovations of the iPhone.

However, the appeal of the Lightning port did not last long. With the emergence of the USB-C port, which also features perfect vertical symmetry like the Lightning port, criticism of the Lightning port's low compatibility increased.

USB ports are categorized into A, B, and C types based on their shape, and among these, the C type (USB-C) is smaller than previous USB ports and has no distinction between the top and bottom of the cable, making it easier to connect.

Data transfer speeds are also relatively fast. USB is classified by data transfer speed into USB 1.0/1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and USB 3.1. The rarely used USB 1.0/1.1 supports transfer speeds up to 12 Mbps (megabits per second), while USB 2.0 supports speeds up to 480 Mbps. USB 3.0 achieves a minimum transfer speed of 5 Gbps (gigabits per second). The USB-C type supports versions 3.0 and above, which offer the highest speeds.

The USB-C port was first introduced in August 2014 and is now widely used not only for smartphone charging but also for computer peripherals such as mice and keyboards. Because many products use USB-C, compatibility is high, and it has been designated as the standard charging port in many countries worldwide. Apple's adoption of the USB-C charging port in the iPhone 15 series is also due to the European Union (EU) mandating that all electronic devices sold in Europe from 2024 must use it.