Since the introduction of the iPhone 11 Pro, Apple has offered iPhone customers two types of charging cables to use, however they differ by the type of USB connection used:
- USB-C to Lightning
- USB-A to Lightning
Both cables are compatible with every iPhone that feature Lightning connectivity, which means every iPhone since the iPhone 5.
You may be wondering what’s the difference and why did Apple bother changing the cable then? With that in mind, this write-up will cover both of these points, in addition to which cable comes in the box with each model of the iPhone.
USB-C to Lightning
Utilising the latest USB 3.1 technology, USB-C to Lightning cables are capable of providing up to 100W of power. This means iPhone users are able to take advantage of fast-charging technology, which as it suggests mean iPhone’s are able to charge at a much faster rate. For example all of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Max are capable of 25W and 27W fast charging allowing them to charge to 50% in approximately 30 to 35 minutes. The USB-C to Lightning cable is also capable of much higher transfer speeds in comparison to a USB-A cable, in addition to being reversible, which is just less hassle.
To make use of a USB-C to Lightning cable, a USB-C Power Adapter is required, however it can also be plugged into the latest PC’s, MacBooks, laptops and in-car USB ports as manufacturers make the transition from traditional USB-A, to USB-C ports.
Which iPhones include a USB-C to Lightning cable in the box?
Apple include a USB-C to Lightning cable in the box for the following models:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (3rd generation 2022)
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
USB-A to Lightning
The USB-A to Lightning is a much more widely used and recoginsable cable, mainly because it’s what Apple have been using to charge their iPhones since 2012 when the iPhone 5 was first released.
Making use of the traditional USB-A connection, this type of cable utilises USB 2.0 technology. As a result of older technology, these cables are not capable of the fast charging times that USB-C cables are capable of.
Which iPhones include a USB-A to Lightning cable in the box?
Apple include a USB-A to Lightning cable in the box for the following models:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone SE (1st generation)
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5
Wrapping Up
Thanks for reading this write up. We hope that you found this useful and found answers to any questions you may have had. If you have any further questions, please leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you.
Amit Patel