Are there good alternatives to Apple's USB-C to lightning adaptor?

Question

Are there good alternatives to Apple's USB-C to lightning adaptor?

Apple's USB-C to Lightning adapter (USB-C "male" / Lightning "female") supports charging, data and audio. This should allow me to use my existing collection of Lighting cables for the iPad Mini (A17) I hope to purcahse. This adapter is fairly long (several inches) and I am looking for a very small adapter that supports the same function, probably manufactured and sold by a third party.

I see there are numerous ones available (on Amazon for example) at fraction of the price of Apple's. It seems these do not support audio. Additionally they all seem to be made off-shore and there's no guarantee of quality, even if I give up the idea of audio support. So it is a "shot in the dark" to know what to purchase.

Question:

Can anyone recommend a specific adapter that is known to work for charging and data that will not overheat or have other problems? If there's one that supports audio as well, all the better.

Thank you in advance.

Posted on Jan 11, 2025 6:53 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 11, 2025 12:11 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Thanks for that. I was not thinking of a cable but one of those little adapters to convert a male lightning to a male USB-C. Like the image below. Maybe someone has successfully used such a thing and can recommend a particular make/model?

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Answer 2

Kurt Lang

Level 9

63,284 points

Jan 11, 2025 6:57 AM in response to KB from Ontario

Third party cables are cheap because they're cheaply made. We have purchased a few such cables or converters (like USB-A to USB-C), but only after researching the company who makes it, and sifting through lots of reviews at Amazon and elsewhere.

But most of the time, I just get the Apple cable so I know it's high quality and perform as expected.

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Answer 3

Kurt Lang

Level 9

63,284 points

Jan 11, 2025 12:30 PM in response to KB from Ontario

USB-C is a bit of a misnomer. It's a port/plug shape, not a protocol. USB-C can be USB, Thunderbolt or Lightning. It all depends on the wiring and the tiny circuit boards you can't see in the housing of the plug end.

But, there are all kinds of adapters and cables. I bought one of the Apple Lightning to USB-C cables so I could connect my iPhone 14 Pro to one of the front ports of my M4 Pro mini. And it's cheaper than the Apple adapter listed right below that. Not sure why anyone would want a $28 adapter when a 3 foot $16 cable does the same thing.

As far as off-brand stuff, Anker tends to be good (I've never had a problem with their hardware). But Amazon doesn't list a simple plug type adapter for them as you show here. There a lot of those to choose from where you get four adapters for only $8, and all with 4 or 4 and a half stars out of 5. But the price makes me wonder about the quality. A lot.

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Answer 4

Jan 11, 2025 1:24 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Thanks for the reply. I get what you're saying.

I have an iPhone Mini 13 and an iPad Mini 4, both of which have lightning ports. Hence I have acquired a number of lightning cables.

Now I am hoping to replace my iPad Mini with the current iPad Mini (A17) which, as you know, has a USB-C port.

My challenge is to figure out a way to continue to make the best use of my collection of charging cables given that I'm introducing a device that has only a USB-C port.

Those small adapters that change the lightning end to a USB-C end seemed a good idea because they are tiny and can sit on the end of the cable rather innocuously. They are inexpensive and thus I would not have to carry an adapter around with the iPad because each cable could have its own adapter.

But finding such a gizmo that is well made, robust, and properly handles the charging and data protocols (at minimum) is not easy when there are so many made off-shore with no proven and verifiable track record other than user reviews (which can be problematic and are anecdotal rather than authoritative).

On the positive side of Apple's adapter, they say it can handle charging, data, and audio, so there's no question that it works. On the negative side of Apple's adapter it is CAN$39 (as opposed to about CAN$14 for 3-4 of the little gizmo adapters), and it would have to stay with the iPad given I wouldn't consider purchasing one for each existing cable. Although I suppose given the state of the world having this kind of dilemma is in itself a luxury.

So - If anyone out there has found any of those gizmo adapters that are robust and work reliably, if you're able to provide the details so I can purchase the, that would be appreciated.

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