On USB-C Port

USB-C is now powering almost all of my mobile devices, except my oldest device, the 2017 iPad Pro 10.5-inch, which still rocks.

Lately, it seems my OnePlus 6’s USB-C port is loosening and seems to have gathered a bit of dust. The charger doesn’t lock in properly and I’ve trouble connecting other stuff as well. My 2017 iPad Pro’s port seems to work just fine even though it has endured abuse similar to my OnePlus 6, which was released in 2018. Which brings me to my point - the physical design of USB-C and lightning port.

The standard USB-C port is better than Apple’s proprietary lightning port in almost every aspect, except the physical design, in my opinion.

Observations

• Apple’s Lightning Connector is easy to clean in case any dust gets stuck on it. USB-C connector, on the other hand, can get the dust stuck on its outer surface, and since it has an open design, dust can get inside as well. Outer dust is easy to clean, just wipe it with a dry cloth and you’re good to go. The inner dust on the other hand, is a horror to deal with.
• On the receptacle port side, both lightning and USB-C are open ports (obviously). But USB-C is at greater disadvantage here, because it has thin plate stuck in between, making it difficult to clean.

Limitations

I have no knowledge of the locking mechanisms of both these ports. So can’t make any informed comments here.

Conclusion

Type-C port is clearly emerging as the new universal standard, since it is both compact and powerful. The capabilities of Type-C or Thunderbolt 3+ obviously far surpass those of lightning port. I just wish the designers had considered the longetivity aspect when designing Type-C. Lightning might be a terrible port feature-wise, but it will definitely last longer.