Lightning is a proprietary

computer bus In computer architecture, a bus (historically also called a data highway or databus) is a communication system that transfers data between components inside a computer or between computers. It encompasses both hardware (e.g., wires, optical ...

and power connector, created and designed by

Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, in Silicon Valley. It is best known for its consumer electronics, software, and services. Founded in 1976 as Apple Comput ...

It was introduced on September 12, 2012, in conjunction with the

iPhone 5 The iPhone 5 is a smartphone that was developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the List of iPhone models, 6th generation iPhone, succeeding the iPhone 4s, and preceding both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. It was formally unveiled as part of ...

, to replace its predecessor, the

30-pin dock connector A dock connector is an electrical connector used to attach a mobile device simultaneously to multiple external resources. Dock connectors typically carry a variety of signals and power, through a single connector, to simplify the process of docki ...

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

iPhone The iPhone is a line of smartphones developed and marketed by Apple that run iOS, the company's own mobile operating system. The first-generation iPhone was announced by then–Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, at ...

iPad The iPad is a brand of tablet computers developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple that run the company's mobile operating systems iOS and later iPadOS. The IPad (1st generation), first-generation iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010. ...

s, and

iPod The iPod is a series of portable media players and multi-purpose mobile devices that were designed and marketed by Apple Inc. from 2001 to 2022. The iPod Classic#1st generation, first version was released on November 10, 2001, about mon ...

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. 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. In 2018, Apple began transitioning to

USB-C USB-C, or USB Type-C, is a 24-pin reversible Electrical connector, connector (not a Communication protocol, protocol) that supersedes previous USB hardware#Connectors, USB connectors (also supersedes Mini DisplayPort and Lightning (connector) ...

iPad Pro The iPad Pro is a series of tablet computers, positioned as the premium line of Apple Inc., Apple's iPad brand. It runs iPadOS, a tablet-optimized Fork (software development), fork of the iOS operating system. Early models were distinguished f ...

s and accessories. In response to European Union legislation to standardize charging ports passed in 2022, Apple said it would comply with regulations. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, announced on September 12, 2023, became the first iPhones to use

, and the last few Lightning accessories will make the transition by 2025.

History

The Lightning connector was introduced on September 12, 2012, with the

, as a replacement for the 30-pin dock connector. 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 or iPod Touch 5) is a mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-based user interface. The successor ...

iPod Nano The iPod Nano (stylized and marketed as iPod nano) is a discontinued portable media player designed and formerly marketed by Apple Inc. The first-generation model was introduced on September 7, 2005, as a replacement for the iPod Mini, using ...

(7th generation),

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

and

iPad Mini (1st generation) The iPad Mini (stylized as iPad mini), known retrospectively as the iPad Mini 1, is the first generation of the mini tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 23, 2012, as the fourth major product in t ...

followed in October and November 2012 as the first devices with Lightning. 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. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression along with i ...

. 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. The first-generation iPad Pro (12.9-inch models only) and the second-generation iPad Pro are the only devices in which the Lightning connector supports

USB 3.0 Universal Serial Bus 3.0 (USB 3.0), marketed as SuperSpeed USB, is the third major version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard for interfacing computers and electronic devices. It was released in November 2008. The USB 3.0 specification ...

host. The only accessory released with USB 3.0 support is the Lightning to Camera Adapter.

Transition to USB-C

In October 2018, following the implementation of

across the

Mac Mac or MAC may refer to: Common meanings * Mac (computer), a line of personal computers made by Apple Inc. * Mackintosh, a raincoat made of rubberized cloth * Mac, a prefix to surnames derived from Gaelic languages * McIntosh (apple), a Canadi ...

lineup, Apple released a range of iPad Pro models that replaced Lightning with it; the 2020 iPad Air (4th generation), 2021

iPad Mini (6th generation) The sixth-generation iPad Mini (stylized and marketed as iPad mini and colloquially referred to as iPad Mini 6) is a tablet computer in the iPad Mini line, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on September 14, 2021, and releas ...

, and 2022

iPad (10th generation) The iPad (10th generation) (also referred to as the iPad 10.9-inch) is a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the successor to the ninth-generation iPad. It was announced on October 18, 2022, and was released on October 26, ...

similarly replaced Lightning with USB-C. In October 2022, Apple released the Siri Remote for the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K with a USB-C connector, becoming Apple's first accessory to charge via USB-C. In January 2020, the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

proposed laws to standardize charger ports. On October 4, 2022, the

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...

approved regulations that require all electronic devices to support USB-C, in order to meet pressure by EU consumers regarding financial costs and

electronic waste Electronic waste (or e-waste) describes discarded electrical or electronics, electronic devices. It is also commonly known as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or end-of-life (EOL) electronics. Used electronics which are destined ...

. 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 Greg "Joz" Joswiak is an American business executive who is the senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple Inc. He replaced Phil Schiller, who served in a similar role, in 2020. As lead marketer for the company, he oversees marketing ...

, 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, will ultimately replace Lightning with USB-C in the future. Released on September 22, 2023, the

iPhone 15 The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are smartphones developed and marketed by Apple. They are the seventeenth generation of iPhones, succeeding the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The devices were announced on September 12, 2023, during the App ...

/ 15 Pro series are the first iPhone models to use USB-C. This means all the latest iPad models since March 18, 2022, and iPhone models since September 22, 2023, have transitioned to USB-C. The 2nd generation AirPods Pro was updated to a USB-C charging case and the MagSafe Duo Charger and MagSafe Battery Pack, which used the Lightning connector, were discontinued. Apple has subsequently transitioned its

AirPods AirPods are wireless Bluetooth earbuds designed by Apple. They were first announced on September 7, 2016, alongside the iPhone 7. Within two years, they became Apple's most popular accessory. AirPods are Apple's entry-level wireless headpho ...

(on 9th September 2024) and Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard (all on October 28th, 2024) to USB-C leaving the AirPods Max as the last remaining product with Lightning in production. In February 19, 2025, following the announcement of the iPhone 16e and the discontinuation of the

iPhone 14 The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are smartphones developed and marketed by Apple Inc. They are the List of iPhone models, sixteenth-generation iPhones, succeeding the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini, and were announced during List of Ap ...

, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone SE (3rd generation), all the iPhone models have transitioned from the proprietary Lightning port to the universal USB-C port.

Technology

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. 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. Only the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st and 2nd generation) and 10.5-inch iPad Pro support

(now USB 3.2 Gen 1), which has a maximum transfer speed of 5 Gbit/s, or 625 MB/s. This requires the Lightning to Camera Adapter, which allows the iPad to connect with cameras and storage peripherals, but not computers. Apple offers various adapters that allow the Lightning connector to be used with other interfaces, such as 30-pin,

USB Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard, developed by USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), for digital data transmission and power delivery between many types of electronics. It specifies the architecture, in particular the physical ...

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary digital interface used to transmit high-quality video and audio signals between devices. It is commonly used to connect devices such as televisions, computer monitors, projectors, gam ...

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 IBM PC compatible industry within three years. T ...

, and

SD card Secure Digital (SD) is a proprietary, non-volatile, flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA). Owing to their compact size, SD cards have been widely adopted in a variety of portable consumer electronics, including dig ...

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). Lightning connectors contain an authentication chip that makes it difficult for third-party manufacturers to produce compatible accessories without being approved by Apple. The authentication scheme has been cracked by some third parties. The connector is 6.7 mm by 1.5 mm.

Compatible devices

In production

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 communi ...

(1st generation) * Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad * EarPods (Lightning Connector)

Discontinued

iPhone

iPhone 5C The iPhone 5c is a smartphone that was developed 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, along with its higher-end counte ...

* iPhone 5S * iPhone 6/6 Plus * iPhone 6S/6S Plus *

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

* iPhone 7/7 Plus * iPhone 8/8 Plus *

iPhone X The iPhone X (Roman numerals, Roman numeral "X" pronounced "ten") is a smartphone that was developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is part of the List of iPhone models, 11th generation of the iPhone. Available for pre-order from September 26, 2 ...

* iPhone XS/XS Max *

iPhone XR The iPhone XR is a smartphone developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is part of the twelfth generation of the iPhone, alongside the higher-end iPhone XS/XS Max models. Pre-orders began on October 19, 2018, with the official release on Octo ...

iPhone 11 The iPhone 11 is a smartphone developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple. It is the thirteenth generation of iPhone, succeeding the iPhone XR, and was unveiled on September 10, 2019, alongside the higher-end iPhone 11 Pro at the Steve Jobs Th ...

* iPhone 11 Pro/11 Pro Max *

iPhone SE (2nd generation) The second-generation iPhone SE (also known as the iPhone SE 2 or the iPhone SE 2020) is a smartphone developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is part of the 13th generation of the iPhone, alongside the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro/Pro Max models. A ...

* iPhone 12/12 mini * iPhone 13/13 mini * iPhone SE (3rd generation) * iPhone 14/14 Plus * iPhone 12 Pro/12 Pro Max * iPhone 13 Pro/13 Pro Max * iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max

iPad

* iPad (5th generation) *

iPad (6th generation) The iPad (6th generation) (also referred to as the iPad 9.7-inch) is a tablet computer 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) The iPad (7th generation) (also referred to as the iPad 10.2-inch) is a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It featured a Retina display and is powered by the Apple A10 Fusion processor. It was the successor to the 6th-gen ...

* iPad (8th generation) * iPad (9th generation) *

* iPad Mini 2 *

iPad Mini 3 The iPad Mini 3 (stylized and marketed as iPad mini 3) is the third-generation iPad Mini tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced alongside the iPad Air 2 on October 16, 2014 and released on October 22. It uses pri ...

* iPad Mini 4 *

iPad Mini (5th generation) The fifth-generation iPad Mini (stylized and marketed as iPad mini and colloquially referred to as iPad Mini 5) is a tablet computer in the iPad Mini line, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. Announced in a press release along with the IPad A ...

* iPad Air (1st generation) * iPad Air 2 *

iPad Air (3rd generation) The iPad Air (3rd generation) (colloquially referred to as iPad Air 3) is a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Cupertino, C ...

iPad Pro (1st generation) The first generation of iPad Pro is a line of iPad, a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple. The iPad Pro was released in 2015 alongside the Apple Pencil, and was the first iPad to use the Pencil as an input device. The iPad Pro was ...

iPad Pro (2nd generation) The second generation of iPad Pro is a line of iPad tablet computers developed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPads, with 12.9 inch and 10.5 inch screens, were both announced on June 5, 2017. Both models are compatible with the first ...

iPod

* iPod Nano (7th generation) *

* iPod Touch (6th generation) *

iPod Touch (7th generation) The seventh generation iPod Touch (marketed as the iPod touch and colloquially known as the iPod touch (2019) or iPod touch 7) is a discontinued mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-based user interface. It is ...

Accessories

* Siri Remote for

Apple TV Apple TV is a digital media player and a microconsole developed and marketed by Apple. It is a small piece of networking hardware that sends received media data such as video and audio to a TV or external display. Its media services include ...

(4th generation) * Siri Remote for Apple TV 4K (1st & 2nd generation) *Beats Solo Pro headphones *BeatsX earphones *Powerbeats Pro *

Beats Pill Beats Pill is a line of portable Bluetooth speakers produced by Beats Electronics, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. The speakers are characterized primarily by their capsule-like form factor. Several Pill models have been released since the original l ...

+ speaker *

(1st generation) Charging Case and Wireless Charging Case *

(2nd generation) Lightning Charging Case *AirPods (3rd generation) Lightning Charging Case/MagSafe Charging Case * AirPods Pro (1st generation) Wireless Charging Case * AirPods Pro (2nd generation) MagSafe Charging Case * AirPods Max (Lightning) *

Apple Watch The Apple Watch is a brand of smartwatch products developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple. It incorporates activity tracker, fitness tracking, Health (Apple), health-oriented capabilities, and wireless telecommunication, and integrates wit ...

Magnetic Charging Dock * MagSafe Duo Charger * MagSafe Battery Pack * Magic Keyboard 2 * Magic Mouse 2 *

Magic Trackpad 2 The Magic Trackpad is a multi-touch and force touch trackpad produced by Apple Inc. The first generation version was released on July 27, 2010, and featured a trackpad 80% larger than the built-in trackpad found on the then-current MacBook famil ...

Reception

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. Reviewers criticised Apple for continuing to include a Lightning port on its iPhones despite the widespread adoption of

, 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. Apple claimed that it continued to use Lightning because replacing it would supposedly produce "an unprecedented amount of electronic waste". Some reviewers, like ''

Business Insider ''Business Insider'' (stylized in all caps: BUSINESS INSIDER; known from 2021 to 2023 as INSIDER) is a New York City–based multinational financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Inside ...

'' senior tech correspondent Lisa Eadicicco, posited that it was simply because Apple wanted to continue profiting from its proprietary chargers and accessories.

MFi certification

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

Black contacts

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 brief spark 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 undergo electrolytic corrosion. The remaining gold plating wears off mechanically and through further sparking, progressively exposing the corroded base metal, which appears black. 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-colored

ruthenium Ruthenium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ru and atomic number 44. It is a rare transition metal belonging to the platinum group of the periodic table. Like the other metals of the platinum group, ruthenium is unreactive to most chem ...

–

rhodium Rhodium is a chemical element; it has symbol Rh and atomic number 45. It is a very rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion-resistant transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group. It has only one naturally occurring isot ...

contact plating instead of gold.

History

Transition to USB-C

Technology

Compatible devices

In production

Accessories

Discontinued

iPhone

iPad

iPod

Accessories

Reception

MFi certification

Black contacts

References

Further reading