Because having a decent, workable standard is better than having a mess of incompatible cables. I can't wait until we're done with lightning. In almost all of our cables, it's not the connector that dies anyway, it's where the cable flexes at the connector attachment.

I never understood why people say things like this and then turn around and shit on the apple laptops for using usb-c for everything.

I don't think people earnestly and legitimately think usb-c should be used for everything, and the cost of doing so is incredibly high (despite it being rather convenient if all your cables are $25 10gbps/240w 3-meter cables or whatever), it's just a convenient wedge for android fans to argue against iphone.

again, ask those same people what they think of the usb-c philosophy on macbooks and boy you're gonna get an earful. the common factor is always "this guy really hates apple" not "this guy really likes usb-c". they never do, when the chips are down.

Well, in the case of the person you're talking to, I'm typing my response on an M1 Macbook Pro. It's the best damn laptop I've ever owned. Three USB-C ports and I'm happy as a clam (in large part because it _also_ has an HDMI port).

I do have to use USB-C to A adapters now and then, mostly for dealing with embedded systems work, but it's not a big deal - almost all of that happens at my desk anyway.

USB-C has a real pain point when it comes to cable compatibility. It's _not_ a panacea. But those are mostly problems I encounter on bigger computers, such as "oh, my 2TB external SSD seems really slow", and not problems I encounter on my phone. I use a Pixel phone for historical reasons and I love that I can use the same charger and cable to charge my phone and my MBP. My wife has an iPhone, an MBP, and an iPad Pro. Her phone is the only device that needs lightning still. Good riddance!

There's a distinction between "everything should have a USB-C port" and "a laptop should have only USB-C ports."

I do have a (non-Apple) USB-C only laptop for work currently and... while I'd like a handful of other ports directly on there from time to time, it's kind of a marvel how much of a "dock" situation you get out of a single USB-C port and a cheap hub with PD passthrough. One plug and I have mouse, keyboard, monitor, plus more, and it works fine on Linux, the same exact thing can get plugged into a Mac if I occasionally use one and have all the same features... it's pretty great.

That's my point, the connector dying is a big deal, so planned obsolescence is easier with usb-c!

They should have just included a usb-c adapter. Unlike PC peripherals, phone chargers get plugged/unplugged many times every day. It's very easy with android phones for the connector stick thingy on the phone to get loose or damaged.

This feels like a government sponsored enshitification.

Why can't people just get android and let apple be. Why do some people get to force consumer standards other consumers don't like. Android can run on any type id purpose built mobile device.

So long as they are not being anti-competitive, who cares if apple uses PoE to charge phones even lol. Leave my capitialism alone!

I've been using usb-c for a few years on all my critical devices (phone, computer , tablet, raspi) and in all possible situations (car, desk, night stand, power bank) and never had an issue with the connector.

I'm sure it happens to some people but it can't be a big issue or I (as the "IT-guy") would have heard about it.

Currently my phone charges mostly with the second notebook charger I got from work or one of those cheapish Anker PD bricks.

Anegdotal evidence, but all my USB-C phones (three of them) so far have had the connector fail after 2-3 years of use, and it's not due to lint and dust in the port. Cable doesn't click into the port and falls out on its own.

I think we're all "IT guy" on HN. You are thinking with a survivor's bias. I use to have this problem with android all the time especially when I traveled

I'm pretty sure the EU said adapter is no longer good enough. The cable included in the box for a couple years has been a Lightning to C cable.

I thought it's the exact opposite?

In Lightning the sturdy bit is the cable and the wobbly bit that grabs it is in the device.

In USB-C the sturdy bit is in the phone and the wobbly bit is in the cable.

It's the wobbly bit that breaks.

No, lightning ports are more durable and cables less durable.

USB-c ports are less durable and cables more durable.

It’s about which end has thinner pins

In Lightning, the springs are in the device and the pads are on the cable. With USB-C, the springs are in the cable, and the pads are in the device. There are different failure modes for the springs failing vs the tongue that the pads are on failing. One approach is not universally better than the other.

Stick breaks more easily than hole in general I think.

Convergence.

No longer have to think about a separate cable for phone charging, can plug your iPhone in for some juice wherever.

That’s basically all that really matters.