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Comment by brandur | Hacker News Reader

Does anyone know if there's any merit to Apple's claim that USB-C isn't compatible with the iPhone's slim dimensions? (From the article: "Apple insisted that its slimmer devices would be unable to fit the then-new USB-C technology ...")

Just looking at the tech specs for the iPhone 11 (lightning) [1] versus iPad Pro (USB-C) [2], the former is actually thicker at 8.3 mm compared to 5.9 mm, and yet the iPad Pro can have USB-C.

Especially given that it's so prevalent in their other hardware, it almost seems like stubbornness at this point that Apple doesn't want to switch, but admittedly that doesn't pass the test of Hanlon's razor. It seems like there must be a better explanation out there somewhere for why they've desperately clung to lightning for so long (backward cable compatibility within the iPhone ecosystem? inertia in circuit/case design?).

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[1] https://www.apple.com/iphone-11/specs/

[2] https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/specs/

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You can't make a determination of connector dimensions based on device specs, because they're not strongly correlated.

The simplest explanation is that Lightning came out before USB-C did, and Apple did not want to risk another PR backlash from getting everyone to move to it after they'd just switched from the 30-pin connector cable.

That's not as simple as "they make more money when you have to buy their peripherals"

It's bullshit as far as I can see.

Most Android flagships with Type-C are either similar or thinner than the iPhone (Samsung S10 for example which is 7.8mm and Moto Z3 is 6.8mm!).

It is pure bullshit.

Same way that the reason they removed the 3.5mm jack was "space" or "courage".

That was shown to be demonstrably not true, as thinner devices kept being released with the port.

Precisely. They removed the 3.5mm jack to sell AirPods, and they ended up selling a ton. They want you to buy into their whole ecosystem, and something like a cable is a foot in the door (more eyeballs on their website or in their stores when you inevitably need a new one).

Their PR makes less sense than the cynical reasoning, so I believe the cynical reasoning.

You'd have to compare volume (not just thickness). iPhones are way smaller, so the difference is more significant than in an iPad.

Exacerbating the issue, the quote is likely from a time when Apple was still pushing for 3D touch on the iPhone, but not the iPad. Meaning the iPhone would have had less volume and more to fit inside the case.

Total bullshit. This is the same excuse they used when they courageously got rid of the 3.5mm jack.

The easiest explanation is that there is a vast accessory market for lightning and it creates stickiness within the Apple ecosystem.

I was thinking they might keep the lightning standard until they would finally remove all connectors from iPhones. But then the whole AirPower charging pad didn’t work out, so not sure why they wouldn’t switch over finally.

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