Lightning is a proprietary

computer bus In computer architecture, a bus (shortened form of the Latin '' omnibus'', and historically also called data highway or databus) is a communication system that transfers data between components inside a computer, or between computers. This e ...

and power connector created and designed by Apple Inc. and introduced on , to replace its predecessor, the

30-pin dock connector A dock connector is a connector used to attach a mobile electronic device simultaneously to multiple external resources. The dock connector will typically carry a variety of signals and power, through a single connector, to simplify the process o ...

. The Lightning connector is used to connect Apple mobile devices like iPhones,

iPad The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc., Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, ...

s, and

iPod The iPod is a discontinued series of portable media players and multi-purpose mobile devices designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The first version was released on October 23, 2001, about months after the Macintosh version of iTunes wa ...

s 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, which was integrated with devices like the

iPhone 4 The iPhone 4 is a smartphone that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the fourth generation of the iPhone lineup, succeeding the iPhone 3GS and preceding the 4S. Following a number of notable leaks, the iPhone 4 was first unvei ...

and the iPad 2. The Lightning plug is symmetrical (same pins on either side), so it can be inserted into a Lightning receptacle in either orientation. The plug is indented on each side to match up with corresponding points inside the receptacle to retain the connection.

History

The Lightning connector was introduced on , as an upgrade to the 30-pin dock connector. It would soon be integrated with all new hardware and devices that were to be announced at the same event. The first compatible devices were the

iPhone 5 The iPhone 5 is a smartphone that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the 6th generation iPhone, succeeding both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, and preceding both the iPhone 5S and 5C. It was formally unveiled as part of a press ...

, the

iPod Touch (5th generation) The fifth generation iPod Touch (stylized and marketed as the iPod touch, and colloquially known as the iPod Touch 5G, iPod Touch 5, or iPod 5) was unveiled at Apple's media event alongside the iPhone 5 on September 12, 2012, and was released ...

, and the iPod Nano (7th generation). The

iPad (4th generation) The iPad (4th generation) (marketed as iPad with Retina display, colloquially referred to as the iPad 4) is a tablet computer produced and marketed by Apple Inc. Compared to its predecessor, the third-generation iPad, the fourth-generati ...

and the

iPad Mini (1st generation) The first-generation iPad Mini (stylized and marketed as iPad mini) (known retrospectively as the iPad Mini 1) is a mini tablet computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 23, 2012, as the fourth ma ...

were added as Lightning devices in October 2012. On November 25, 2012, Apple acquired the "Lightning" trademark in Europe from

Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson, Inc. (H-D, or simply Harley) is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depre ...

. Apple was given a partial transfer of the Lightning trademark, suggesting that Harley-Davidson likely retained the rights to use the name for motorcycle-related products. Apple is the sole proprietor of the trademark and copyrights for the designs and specifications of the Lightning connector. The

iPad Pro The iPad Pro is a premium model of Apple's iPad tablet computer. It runs iPadOS, a tablet-optimized version of the iOS operating system. The original iPad Pro was introduced in September 2015, and ran iOS 9. The second-generation iPad P ...

, released in 2015, features the first Lightning connector supporting USB 3.0 host. The only accessory that supports USB 3.0 is the new camera adapter. Normal USB-A - Lightning cables are still USB 2.0. On October 30, 2018, Apple announced that their new range of iPad Pro models will replace Lightning with

USB-C USB-C (properly known as USB Type-C) is a 24-pin USB connector system with a rotationally symmetrical Electrical connector, connector. The designation C refers only to the connector's physical configuration or form factor and should not be co ...

. In January 2020, the EU commission proposed laws to standardize charger ports. On October 4, 2022, the EU parliament approved regulations that would require all electronic devices to support USB-C, in order to meet pressure by EU consumers regarding financial costs and e-waste. Commentators said that these regulations will impact Apple most heavily. Apple stated concerns that this will "harm consumers in Europe and around the world," but on October 25, 2022, Greg Joswiak, the vice president of worldwide marketing of Apple, said that Apple will comply with the new EU regulations, indirectly confirming that iPhone models and other devices will ultimately replace Lightning with USB-C in the future.

Technology

Lightning is an 8-pin connector that carries a digital signal. Unlike the Apple 30-pin connector it replaces (and USB Type-A or -B connectors), the Lightning connector can be inserted either face up or face down. Each pin on the reverse side of the connector is connected to its directly opposite twin on the other side. Part of the processor's job is to route the power and data signals correctly whichever way up the connector is inserted. The maximum transfer speed available over the Lightning connector is 480 Mbit/s, same as USB 2.0. The Lightning receptacle on the 12.9-inch

(1st and 2nd generation) and 10.5-inch iPad Pro models has 16 pins, as there are additional eight pins on the other side. It supports USB 3.0 (now USB 3.2 Gen 1) at the maximum transfer speed of 5 Gbit/s. Only the Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter provides the speed on those iPad Pro models. Apple offers various adapters that allow the Lightning connector to be used with other interfaces, such as 30-pin, USB,

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controlle ...

VGA Video Graphics Array (VGA) is a video display controller and accompanying de facto graphics standard, first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, which became ubiquitous in the PC industry within three years. The term can now ...

, and

SD card Secure Digital, officially abbreviated as SD, is a proprietary non-volatile flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA) for use in portable devices. The standard was introduced in August 1999 by joint efforts between SanDis ...

s. 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 the DAC inside of the adapter). Official Lightning connectors contain an authentication chip that made it difficult for third-party manufacturers to produce compatible accessories without being approved by Apple. The authentication scheme has been cracked, however. The plug measures 6.7 mm by 1.5 mm.

Comparisons with USB

Apple has not publicly discussed

microUSB The initial versions of the USB standard specified connectors that were easy to use and that would have acceptable life spans; revisions of the standard added smaller connectors useful for compact portable devices. Higher-speed development of t ...

, but various tech news websites state that Lightning might have been used instead of microUSB because of its compatibility with docks and speaker systems; the ability to insert the cable in either direction for user convenience; Apple wishing to maintain control over supply chain of accessories; the ability to charge a licensing fee; and the mechanical weakness of USB connectors. The optional supplemental standard

USB On-The-Go USB On-The-Go (USB OTG or just OTG) is a specification first used in late 2001 that allows USB devices, such as tablets or smartphones, to act as a host, allowing other USB devices, such as USB flash drives, digital cameras, mouse or keyboa ...

allows USB devices to do this. On April 10, 2015, Apple announced a new line of MacBooks that featured

. USB-C has similarities with Lightning, and advantages over microUSB. USB-C, like Lightning, but unlike its predecessor microUSB, can be plugged in either direction. USB-C and Lightning are not interchangeable as they are entirely different pin-outs, protocols and connectors.

Devices using Lightning connectors

The following first-party and third-party devices use Lightning connectors:

iPhone

iPhone 5C The iPhone 5C (marketed as iPhone 5c) is a smartphone that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is part of the sixth generation of the iPhone. The device was unveiled on September 10, 2013, and released on September 20, 2013, alon ...

iPhone 5S The iPhone 5S (stylized and marketed as iPhone 5s) is a smartphone that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the seventh generation of the iPhone, succeeding the iPhone 5, and unveiled in September 2013, alongside the iPhone 5C. ...

* iPhone 6/6 Plus * iPhone 6S/6S Plus *

iPhone SE (1st generation) The first-generation iPhone SE (also known as iPhone SE or iPhone SE 2016; ''SE'' is an initialism of ''Special Edition'') is a smartphone that was designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It is part of the 9th generation of the iP ...

* iPhone 7/7 Plus * iPhone 8/8 Plus * iPhone X * iPhone XS/XS Max * iPhone XR * iPhone 11 * iPhone 11 Pro/11 Pro Max * iPhone SE (2nd generation) * iPhone 12/12 Mini * iPhone 12 Pro/12 Pro Max * iPhone 13/13 Mini * iPhone 13 Pro/13 Pro Max * iPhone SE (3rd generation) * iPhone 14/14 Plus * iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max

iPad

iPad (5th generation) The iPad 9.7-inch (officially iPad (5th generation)) is a tablet computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. After its announcement on March 21, 2017, conflicting naming conventions spawned a number of different names, including ...

iPad (6th generation) The iPad 9.7-inch (officially iPad (6th generation)) is a tablet computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on March 27, 2018, during an education-focused event at Lane Tech High School in Chicago and is the ...

* iPad (7th generation) *

iPad (8th generation) The iPad 10.2-inch (officially iPad (8th generation)) is a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the successor to the 7th-generation iPad. It was announced on September 15, 2020 and released on September 18, 2020. Features ...

* iPad (9th generation) *

* iPad Mini 2 * iPad Mini 3 * iPad Mini 4 * iPad Mini (5th generation) *

iPad Air The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating ...

* iPad Air 2 * iPad Air (3rd generation) * iPad Pro (1st generation) * iPad Pro (2nd generation)

iPod

* iPod Nano (7th generation) *

* iPod Touch (6th generation) * iPod Touch (7th generation)

Adapters

* Lightning to 30-pin Adapter * Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m) * Lightning to Micro USB Adapter * Lightning to USB Camera Adapter * Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter * Lightning to

SD Card Secure Digital, officially abbreviated as SD, is a proprietary non-volatile flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA) for use in portable devices. The standard was introduced in August 1999 by joint efforts between SanDis ...

Camera

Reader A reader is a person who reads. It may also refer to: Computing and technology * Adobe Reader (now Adobe Acrobat), a PDF reader * Bible Reader for Palm, a discontinued PDA application * A card reader, for extracting data from various forms of ...

* Lightning to VGA Adapter * Lightning Digital AV Adapter * Lightning to HDMI * Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter * Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable * Lightning to USB (Power Delivery) * Lightning to USB-C (Power Delivery)

First-party accessories

Apple Pencil Apple Pencil is a line of wireless stylus pen accessories designed and developed by Apple Inc. for use with supported iPad tablets. The first-generation Apple Pencil was announced alongside the first iPad Pro on September 9, 2015. It commun ...

(1st generation) * Magic Mouse 2 * Magic Keyboard * Magic Trackpad 2 *

Apple Watch Apple Watch is a line of smartwatches produced by Apple Inc. It incorporates fitness tracking, health-oriented capabilities, and wireless telecommunication, and integrates with iOS and other Apple products and services. The Apple Watch was rel ...

Magnetic Charging Dock * MagSafe Duo Charger *

MagSafe Battery Pack MagSafe is a proprietary, magnetically attached wireless power transfer and accessory-attachment standard developed by Apple Inc. for its iPhone and AirPods product lines. It was announced on 13 October 2020, in conjunction with the iPhone 1 ...

Siri Remote The Siri Remote (known as the Apple TV Remote in regions where Siri is not supported) is a remote control released by Apple with the Siri-capable fourth generation and later Apple TV. The Siri Remote is the successor to the original Apple Remot ...

for

Apple TV An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus '' Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancesto ...

(4th generation) *

for

Apple TV 4K An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, ' ...

(1st & 2nd generation) *

AirPods AirPods are wireless Bluetooth earbuds designed by Apple Inc. They were first announced on September 7, 2016, alongside the iPhone 7. Within two years, they became Apple's most popular accessory. The most recent model, AirPods (3rd generatio ...

(1st & 2nd generation) Charging Case and Wireless Charging Case *

AirPods Pro AirPods Pro are wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphones designed by Apple, initially released on October 30, 2019. They are Apple's mid-range wireless headphones, sold alongside the base-level AirPods and highest-end AirPods Max. The first-gene ...

Wireless Charging Case and MagSafe Charging Case * AirPods (3rd generation) MagSafe Charging Case *

AirPods Max AirPods Max are wireless Bluetooth over-ear headphones designed by Apple, and released on December 15, 2020. They are Apple’s highest-end option in the AirPods lineup, sold alongside the base model AirPods and mid-range AirPods Pro. The mai ...

EarPods Apple Inc. has produced and sold headphones since 2001, available for standalone purchase and bundled with iPhone (until 2020) and iPod (until 2022) products. Apple's current product line consists of EarPods (wired earbuds available with a 3.5m ...

with Lightning Connector * Powerbeats Pro Charging Case * Beats Solo Pro headphones * BeatsX earphones * Beats Pill+ speaker *

Dock *

Dock * iPhone Lightning Dock

Third-party accessories

Belkin Belkin is an American consumer electronics and networking company headquartered in El Segundo, California. It produces mobile and computer connectivity devices and peripherals for consumer and commercial use. These include wireless chargers, po ...

Boostcharge Power Bank with Lightning connector * SteelSeries Nimbus and Nimbus+ gaming controllers *

Backbone One The Backbone One is an attachable game controller for iOS devices. Both the controller and the Backbone iOS app are created by Backbone. The app acts as a social hub and allows for editing and sharing recorded gameplay through social media platforms ...

gaming controller *

Razer Inc. Razer Inc. is an American-Singaporean multinational technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, financial services, and gaming hardware. Founded by Min-Liang Tan and Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, it is dual headqua ...

Kishi for iPhone gaming controller * Mophie powerstation with Lightning connector *

Logitech Logitech International S.A. ( ; often shortened to Logi) is a Swiss multinational manufacturer of computer peripherals and software, with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Newark, California. The company has offices throughout Europe ...

Crayon Apple Pencil alternative

Reception

Many reviewers have criticized Apple for continuing to include a Lightning port on their products instead of moving to a more modern, universal port such as

. Apple has stated that they continue to use Lightning because replacing it "would create an unprecedented amount of electronic waste". Some reviewers, like senior tech correspondent Lisa Eadicicco, have speculated that it is simply because Apple wants to continue selling its proprietary chargers and accessories.

Problems that affect charging

MFi Certification

Apple introduced the MFi Program to increase the quality of the third-party accessories and consumer confidence.

Black Middle Pin

A phenomenon exists on lightning connectors where one of the middle gold pins turn black over time, making one side of the connector cease functioning. The pin holds a positive or negative

electrical charge Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described ...

, and when the cable is connected to a device, a

spark gap A spark gap consists of an arrangement of two conducting electrodes separated by a gap usually filled with a gas such as air, designed to allow an electric spark to pass between the conductors. When the potential difference between the conductor ...

can be produced due to extra current being drawn to a

capacitor A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy in an electric field by virtue of accumulating electric charges on two close surfaces insulated from each other. It is a passive electronic component with two terminals. The effect of ...

for a short period. This spark gap causes the

copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pink ...

plate of the pin to erode, turning it black.