Both Android and iOS are drastically different from one another, and so is the way they charge up or share data.
Apple introduced the Lightning connector in 2012, with the unveiling of iPhone 5, which replaced the wide 30-pin connector that it came with. Android, however, stuck with its trusty micro-USB port
For example, OnePlus, even with its latest OnePlus 5T, holds a Type-C port with a USB 2.0 interface. This means it basically is a micro-USB port with the reversible Type-C connector. It lacks all the goodness USB Type-C is known for. Sure it has Dash Charging that charges your phone insanely fast, but it lacks the display sharing capability or even a fast data transfer.
There are other smartphone brands too that choose to add a Type-C connector with a USB 2.0 interface. And that’s where the problem actually rests. We have laptops and other devices that use Type-C for connectivity, and if you thought that you could use your smartphone’s Type-C cable for charging it or sharing the screen, you’ll be in for a huge surprise. That machine won’t charge, as the cable isn’t capable of handling the bandwidth. So the entire premise of USB Type-C’s universality goes moot.
Why is Apple’s Lightning Connector better?
With Apple removing the 3.5mm headphone jack, brands have started working on Lightning headphones, that works on all iPhones, including the dated iPhone 5. And although there aren’t many options available, the current collection is nothing short of awesome.
In case of USB Type-C, since Android is so vividly scattered including so many smartphone makers in the game, each smartphone maker could decide to create a custom connectivity with its manufactured headphones. Basically, even when smartphones have a USB Type-C port, brands can choose to have a unique configuration that will only be compatible with headphones manufactured by them.
As I mentioned earlier, not all Android smartphones with USB Type-C support screen sharing due to the lack of the USB 3.1 interface, but on an iPhone, a simple Lightning to HDMI adapter would make it instantly compatible.
In the end, it all boils down to this. USB Type-C was supposed to be this amazing platform that could enable people to carry just one cable to do a bunch of things together, but the poor implementation has led to an even more complicated and cluttered ecosystem that just makes Apple’s Lightning connector far more practical despite USB Type-C’s diverse capabilities.
Apple introduced the Lightning connector in 2012, with the unveiling of iPhone 5, which replaced the wide 30-pin connector that it came with. Android, however, stuck with its trusty micro-USB port
For example, OnePlus, even with its latest OnePlus 5T, holds a Type-C port with a USB 2.0 interface. This means it basically is a micro-USB port with the reversible Type-C connector. It lacks all the goodness USB Type-C is known for. Sure it has Dash Charging that charges your phone insanely fast, but it lacks the display sharing capability or even a fast data transfer.
There are other smartphone brands too that choose to add a Type-C connector with a USB 2.0 interface. And that’s where the problem actually rests. We have laptops and other devices that use Type-C for connectivity, and if you thought that you could use your smartphone’s Type-C cable for charging it or sharing the screen, you’ll be in for a huge surprise. That machine won’t charge, as the cable isn’t capable of handling the bandwidth. So the entire premise of USB Type-C’s universality goes moot.
Why is Apple’s Lightning Connector better?
Curse Apple all you want for overpricing its devices and accessories, but one thing you to know remains constant is the large plethora of Lightning compatible devices to choose from. From speaker docks to headphones, to other accessories, your Lightning port will support all these devices as long as they hold the Lightning connector.
With Apple removing the 3.5mm headphone jack, brands have started working on Lightning headphones, that works on all iPhones, including the dated iPhone 5. And although there aren’t many options available, the current collection is nothing short of awesome.
In case of USB Type-C, since Android is so vividly scattered including so many smartphone makers in the game, each smartphone maker could decide to create a custom connectivity with its manufactured headphones. Basically, even when smartphones have a USB Type-C port, brands can choose to have a unique configuration that will only be compatible with headphones manufactured by them.
As I mentioned earlier, not all Android smartphones with USB Type-C support screen sharing due to the lack of the USB 3.1 interface, but on an iPhone, a simple Lightning to HDMI adapter would make it instantly compatible.
In the end, it all boils down to this. USB Type-C was supposed to be this amazing platform that could enable people to carry just one cable to do a bunch of things together, but the poor implementation has led to an even more complicated and cluttered ecosystem that just makes Apple’s Lightning connector far more practical despite USB Type-C’s diverse capabilities.