 Top-down view of a Lightning connector, showing one side of eight pins | |||
| Type | Data and power connector | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Production history | |||
| Designer | Apple Inc. | ||
| Designed | 2012 | ||
| Produced | 2012–2025 | ||
| Superseded | 30-pin dock connector | ||
| Superseded by | USB-C | ||
| General specifications | |||
| Pins | 8 | ||
| Pinout | |||
 | |||
| Pins of the Lightning connector | |||
| Pin 1 | GND | Ground | |
| Pin 2 | L0p | Lane 0 positive | |
| Pin 3 | L0n | Lane 0 negative | |
| Pin 4 | ID0 | Identification/control 0 | |
| Pin 5 | PWR | Power (charger or battery) | |
| Pin 6 | L1n | Lane 1 negative | |
| Pin 7 | L1p | Lane 1 positive | |
| Pin 8 | ID1 | Identification/control 1 | |
| Lane 0 and 1 may be swapped in the IC of the device connector. (No swapping occurs if the accessory identification chip is connected to the ID0 pin.) | |||
Lightning is a discontinued proprietarycomputer bus and power connector, created and designed byApple Inc. It was introduced on September 12, 2012, in conjunction with theiPhone 5, to replace its predecessor, the30-pin dock connector, and phased out during 2024–2025, concluding with the withdrawal of theiPhone 14 from sale.
The Lightning connector is used to connect legacy Apple mobile devices likeiPhones,iPads, andiPods to host computers, external monitors, cameras, USB battery chargers, and other peripherals. Using 8 pins instead of 30, Lightning is much smaller than its predecessor. The Lightning connector is reversible. The plug is indented on each side to match up with corresponding points inside the receptacle to retain the connection.[1]
In 2018, Apple began transitioning toUSB-C oniPad Pros and accessories. In response to European Unionlegislation to standardize charging ports passed in 2022, Apple said it would comply with regulations. TheiPhone 15 and 15 Plus and theiPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, announced on September 12, 2023, became the first iPhones to useUSB-C, and the last few Lightning accessories made the transition in 2024 and 2025.[2]
The Lightning connector was introduced on September 12, 2012, with theiPhone 5, as a replacement for the 30-pin dock connector.[3] TheiPod Touch (5th generation),iPod Nano (7th generation),[4]iPad (4th generation) andiPad Mini (1st generation) followed in October and November 2012 as the first devices with Lightning.[5][6]
On November 25, 2012, Apple acquired the "Lightning" trademark in Europe fromHarley-Davidson. Apple was given apartial transfer of the Lightning trademark, suggesting that Harley-Davidson likely retained the rights to use the name for motorcycle-related products.[7][8]
Thefirst-generation iPad Pro (12.9-inch models only) and thesecond-generation iPad Pro were the only devices in which the Lightning connector supportedUSB 3.0 host.[9] The only accessory released with USB 3.0 support was the Lightning toUSB 3 Camera Adapter.[10]
In October 2018, following the implementation ofUSB-C across theMac lineup, Apple released arange of iPad Pro models that replaced Lightning with it; the 2020iPad Air (4th generation), 2021iPad Mini (6th generation), and 2022iPad (10th generation) similarly replaced Lightning with USB-C.[11] In October 2022, Apple released theSiri Remote for the 3rd generationApple TV 4K with a USB-C connector, becoming Apple's first accessory to charge via USB-C.[12]
In January 2020, theEuropean Commission proposed laws to standardize charger ports. On October 4, 2022, theEuropean Parliament approved regulations that require all electronic devices to support USB-C,[13] in order to meet pressure by EU consumers regarding financial costs andelectronic waste. Commentators said that these regulations would impact Apple most heavily.[14] Apple stated concerns that this will "harm consumers in Europe and around the world",[15] but on October 25, 2022,Greg Joswiak, Vice President of Global Marketing for Apple, said that Apple will comply with the new EU regulations, indirectly confirming that iPhone models and other devices, if not portless,[16] would ultimately replace Lightning with USB-C in the future.[17]
Released on September 22, 2023, theiPhone 15/15 Pro series were the first iPhone models to use USB-C. This meant all the latest iPad models since March 18, 2022, and iPhone models since September 22, 2023, have transitioned to USB-C. The 2nd generationAirPods Pro were updated to a USB-C charging case, and theMagSafe Duo Charger andMagSafe Battery Pack, which used the Lightning connector, were discontinued.[18]
Apple subsequently transitioned itsAirPods (on 9th September 2024[19]) and Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard (all on October 28, 2024[20]) to USB-C. Apple's last peripheral or accessory requiring Lightning were theAirPods Max, which were finally revised to a USB-C connection in September 2024.[21]
On February 19, 2025, following the announcement of theiPhone 16e and the discontinuation of theiPhone 14,iPhone 14 Plus andiPhone SE (3rd generation), all the iPhone models have transitioned from the proprietary Lightning port to the universal USB-C port.[22]
Lightning is an eight-pin digital connector. Unlike the 30-pin dock connector it replaced (and USB Type-A and -B connectors), it is reversible.[23]
Most Lightning devices only support USB 2.0, which has a maximum transfer speed of 480 Mbit/s, or 60 MB/s. With USB 2.0, only one lane is in use at a time.[24][25] Only the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st and 2nd generation) and 10.5-inch iPad Pro supportUSB 3.0 (now USB 3.2 Gen 1), which has a maximum transfer speed of 5 Gbit/s, or 625 MB/s.[9] This requires the Lightning toUSB 3 Camera Adapter, which allows the iPad to connect with cameras and storage peripherals, but not computers.[26][10]
Apple offers various adapters that allow the Lightning connector to be used with other interfaces, such as 30-pin,USB-C,HDMI,VGA, andSD cards. The Lightning to 30-pin adapter supports only a limited subset of the available 30-pin signals: USB data, USB charging, and analog audio output (via theDAC inside of the adapter[27]).
Lightning connectors contain an authentication chip that makes it difficult for third-party manufacturers to produce compatible accessories without being approved by Apple.[28] The authentication scheme has beencracked by some third parties.[23]
The connector is 6.7 mm by 1.5 mm.
Initial opinions of the Lightning connector in media were mixed: publications appreciated the reversibility and increased durability of the connector but were critical of its proprietary nature, of the effects of its authentication protocol on third-party accessory availability, and of the lack of performance improvements over the 30-pin dock connector.[31][32]
Reviewers criticised Apple for continuing to include a Lightning port on its iPhones despite the widespread adoption ofUSB-C, especially as Apple had already pioneered adoption of USB-C as the primary connector for both data and power on the iPad Pro and MacBook lineups.[33]
Apple claimed that it continued to use Lightning because replacing it would supposedly produce "an unprecedented amount of electronic waste".[34][35] Some reviewers, likeBusiness Insider senior tech correspondent Lisa Eadicicco, posited that it was simply because Apple wanted to continue profiting from its proprietary chargers and accessories.[36][failed verification]
Apple introduced theMFi Program to increase the quality of third-party accessories and consumer confidence.[37][38]
A known failure mode of Lightning plugs is power contacts turning black over time, sometimes causing the affected side of the connector to cease functioning. When the plug is inserted or unplugged while powered, a briefspark may occur between the mating power contacts in the plug and socket, eroding their gold plating. Because the Lightning plug's contacts are unprotected, they are easily contaminated with conductive substances like sweat. These contaminants then allow the base metal of the contact, exposed by the damaged plating, to undergoelectrolytic corrosion. The remaining gold plating wears off mechanically and through further sparking, progressively exposing the corroded base metal, which appears black.[39]
In 2019, Apple released new versions of the Lightning connector and ceased production of the older versions. These new versions included many improvements, including a more robust, silver-coloredruthenium–rhodium contact plating instead of gold.[40][41]
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