USB-C, USB-A & Lightning: a practical cable and adapter guide

iPhone moved to USB-C in 2023, but Lightning devices are everywhere. Here's which cable or adapter you need, including for USB-A ports.

Apple used Lightning on iPhones from the iPhone 5 (2012) to the iPhone 14. Starting with the iPhone 15 (2023), iPhones use USB-C. Many homes now have both, so here's how to keep everything charging.

If your iPhone has Lightning

Use a USB-C to Lightning cable with a USB-C Power Delivery charger. iPhone 8 and later support fast charging this way. With a charger of about 20W or more, Apple says compatible models can reach around 50% in about 30 minutes. An older USB-A cable and a 5W cube will work, but much more slowly.

If your iPhone has USB-C

Use a standard USB-C to USB-C cable. A 60W cable is plenty for any iPhone, and the same cable charges your iPad, Mac and many Android devices.

Reusing old Lightning accessories

A USB-C (male) to Lightning (female) adapter lets you plug existing Lightning cables into a USB-C iPhone. It's a convenient bridge while you transition, especially for chargers built into cars or furniture.

Using USB-C cables with USB-A ports

Cars, older chargers and many desktop PCs still have only USB-A ports. A USB-A (male) to USB-C (female) adapter lets you plug your USB-C cable, earphones or flash drive into them. A few things to know:

• Data speed depends on the port. A blue or "SS" USB-A port (USB 3.x) is needed for high speeds. On a USB 2.0 port, everything runs at 480 Mbps. For 10Gbps, the port, the adapter, the cable and the device must all support 10Gbps.
• Charging power depends on the charger. Charging speed is set by the USB-A charger and the device, not the adapter alone. Computer USB-A ports usually supply only a little power.
• No video. USB-A ports don't carry DisplayPort Alt Mode, so you can't connect a monitor this way.
• CarPlay and Android Auto generally work through a data-capable adapter, which is handy for cars that only have USB-A.

Going the other way, a USB-C (male) to USB-A (female) OTG adapter lets you use USB-A flash drives, keyboards and game controllers with a USB-C laptop, tablet or phone.

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