This week, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e, the successor to the iPhone SE 3, boasting a fresh iPhone 14-inspired design. Alongside the new launch, the company officially discontinued both the iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 14 Plus—marking a significant milestone in Apple’s history: the end of the Lightning connector.
After nearly 12 years, Apple has fully transitioned to USB-C, meaning every iPhone, iPad, Mac, and accessory now supports the universal charging standard. This move eliminates Apple’s proprietary Lightning port once and for all, allowing users to charge their devices with a single, standardized cable.
Introduced in 2012 with the iPhone 5, the Lightning port was revolutionary at the time, replacing the bulky 30-pin connector with a smaller, reversible, and more efficient alternative. It provided faster charging speeds and improved reliability, setting a new standard for mobile connectivity. However, as USB-C evolved to offer higher data transfer speeds and broader compatibility, Apple gradually shifted away from Lightning—culminating in its complete phase-out with the latest product lineup.
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