Between the two plugs Apple has used
From the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 14 family, iPhones used Lightning. iPhone 15 and later use USB-C. Many homes now have both: a new iPhone and a drawer of Lightning cables, a pair of Lightning earphones, a car lead, an older iPad. A USB-C to Lightning adapter lets one work with the other, so the old things stay in use. Apple describes its own adapter of this kind as supporting power, data and audio with Lightning accessories. The adapters here each do a particular job, so read what each one carries.
What is here
- A charging and data adapter in two versions: a USB-C plug with a Lightning socket, so a Lightning cable charges a USB-C iPhone, or a Lightning plug with a USB-C socket, so a USB-C cable charges an older iPhone. Choose the one you need on the product page. It carries charging and USB 2.0 data, and its listing says it does not carry sound.
- A Lightning to USB-C audio adapter, with a Lightning socket and a USB-C plug, listed for Lightning headphones on a USB-C iPhone, iPad or MacBook.
- An adapter set of several small USB-C adapters, to Lightning, micro-USB, OTG and USB 3.0, for a bag or a drawer.
Which way round
Adapters are named by their two ends, and "male" and "female" on a listing mean plug and socket. Work out which end goes into the phone. For a new USB-C iPhone and an old Lightning cable, you want a USB-C plug and a Lightning socket. For an older Lightning iPhone and a new USB-C cable, you want a Lightning plug and a USB-C socket. It is easy to get the wrong way round, so check both ends before you order.
Charging speed through an adapter
An adapter is one more part in the chain, and the phone, the charger, the cable and the adapter together set the speed. For an older iPhone, Apple's route to fast charging is a USB-C to Lightning cable on a USB-C charger with USB Power Delivery, so for the cable you use every night a proper Lightning cable is simpler than an adapter. For a new iPhone, a USB-C to USB-C cable does the same job. Adapters are best for the things that are harder to replace: headphones, a car lead, a dock.
Questions people ask about USB-C to Lightning adapters
Will my Lightning earphones work on an iPhone 17?
With an adapter that carries sound, yes. Check the listing: a charging adapter may not pass sound. Adapters for the round 3.5mm plug are in USB-C to headphone adapters.
Can I charge my iPhone 13 with a USB-C cable?
Yes, through an adapter with a Lightning plug and a USB-C socket, or more simply with a USB-C to Lightning cable. The guide to which cable your phone needs sets out the choices.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.
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