USB-C vs Lightning Durability

The failure mode for every plugged in USB-C cable I have owned has been the connector bending on the cable with no damage at all to the port on the device. Cable needs to be replaced but I have had zero USB C port failures at this point having owned around 15 USB-C devices in the last 5-6 years (several of which are Apple devices btw, which is why I'm happy about dropping the last of Lightning).

You're not alone. My lightning to USB-C cables always break at USB-C side but not Lightning side. Also, a USB-C port in my M1 laptop stopped working and needs repair (and no, flossing pick doesn't help). I actually am wary about this change.

I was thinking the same about both connectors. And then I bought an iPhone. I never broke a USB-C connector nor socket in few years of heavy usage on few devices, but I needed to buy new lightning cable because the pins have worn out after less than a year of just connecting the cable to iphone.

For what it's worth I've broken two usb-c connectors on my laptop, one on a charger and bent one on my phone, and it's always been the cable that's given out. The ports are still like new.

Of the 7 lightening cables I own, two of them have stopped working, and one of them only charges in only one orientation (flip it, and it doesn't work). I'm hoping that usb-c on Apple devices will be more reliable.

I have multiple ones. They accumulate dust easily and get damaged much more often. You won’t see that if 99% of the time is in clean environment. As of today I have 3 iPhones that won’t charge on the wire. Those are physical damages so it’s not like anything covers it (and Apple Care is not available in Poland). Same happens with the cables. I’m replacing USB-C display cable (that’s lightning I suppose) every year now because they get loose and start to disconnect if you sneeze in the vicinity.<

I’ve personally found usb-c ports aren’t great longevity wise. They have a similar issue as I had with micro-USB: they stop clamping onto the plug and then you don’t get a reliable connection. I’ve found Lightning ports more reliable (with periodic lint cleaning) but it’s a shame that it’s a proprietary standard.

It does not match my experience. My lightning connectors wear off - it is only a matter of time. It has never ever happened to any on my USB-C cables.

We have this problem with both apple cables and micro usb. The kids yank on them and the cables break. Charging cables just seem to be a consumable item. The difference is that the ports in the micro usb devices also get damaged so pretty much all the android stuff we have that the kids are allowed near only charges if you wedge it in a special angle with a something bending the cable in the port. The lightning port seems to be much more robust than micro usb.

I had to change a lightning cable once, after years of daily use, and it wasn't the connector the issue. I wonder what was the people owing the cable you saw did with them...