Robotics engineering student Ken Pillonel was the first to modify an iPhone X to replace the Lightning port with a USB-C port in 2021. In fact, legislation in the European Union last year effectively ensures that Apple will sell iPhones with a USB-C port by 2024. Want to know even more about Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C? Take look at this deeper dive on both.There’s been a lot of talk lately about Apple switching from their existing Lightning port on iPhones to the USB-C port on future models instead. Though eventually over time, the convenience, power and versatility of USB-C will be widespread and everyone will be happy. This transition involves adapters and dongles to connect older devices that don't have a USB-C connector built-in. While the USB-C connector is undoubtedly the future path for connectivity, there lies an awkward transition ahead. Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) allows you to connect to monitors, charge your Mac, charge your phone from your Mac, transfer data - all in one physical connector. And that's good news for all those photos and videos you're taking with your new iPhone 7 Plus. This means if you're using a USB-C equipped external hard drive, that your files will still transfer pretty fast. With transfer speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second (USB 3.1 Gen 2), USB-C is pretty fast on it's own. While the new MacBook Pros have Thunderbolt 3, you might have peripherals (hard drives, keyboards, etc.) that don't use Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 3 allows for connection speeds up to 40 gigabits per second. USB-C is reversible and there is no right side up! It's super fast How many times have you gone to plug in a USB cable and forgotten which side is up? Well, you won't have to do the USB flip dance any more. No need to worry about plugging it in upside-down USB-C means no more second guessing if the USC cable is right-side up when you plug it in. That's because USB-C is physically a different port than USB-A or Thunderbolt 2. The downside for connecting older USB or Thunderbolt devices is that you'll need an adapter to do so. Thunderbolt 3 is equally backwards compatible - to Thunderbolt 2. USB-C is backwards compatible and will support devices that use USB-A. We used USB, to connect mouses, printers, displays and other peripherals to our computers. For years, Macs have had USB and Thunderbolt ports.

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