# Apple Lightning connector

19 Hacker News commenters recommended Apple Lightning connector and 16 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People praise Lightning for its secure click, small reversible design, and durability compared with USB-C, though many note it was proprietary and wore out over time.

## Why people recommend it

- Secure, satisfying click when plugged in (5 comments): "I’ve found Lightning to be a nice fit when plugged in (it’s got a nice “click”) and USB-C a bit flimsy and loose in comparison." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46365412)) "Lightning is such a better connector and one of the main reasons I still haven't replaced my phone." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48912760)) "I love the Lightning connector, and think it feels better than USB-C." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47993077))
- Physically superior to USB-C (6 comments): "The Lightning connector and its port are physically superior in every way." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47844099)) "The Lighnting connector and its port are superior in every way" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47844741)) "Lightning is a superior physical design to USB-C" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47864234))
- Small, reversible, less fragile than 30-pin (2 comments): "everyone quickly loved having a reversible and small cable that was less fragile than 30pin" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46071951)) "The iPhone rocking a massively better connector half a decade earlier than the vast majority of the competition" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46064641))
- Durable; connectors rarely break off (2 comments): "I have 10+ year lightning connnectors working great" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48949205)) "I've almost never had one break off." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48912844))

## What people warn about

- Spring contacts wear out (2 comments): "Putting spring on the connector part rather than socket part means the easily replaceable part has wear item." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47573437)) "the Lightning connector itself has the spring-loaded contacts that wear out" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47838754))
- Proprietary; Apple kept it closed (2 comments): "Apple really fucked up by keeping the connector proprietary" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47838026)) "the Lightning connector has DRM in the fucking cable" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50198205))

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Apple+Lightning+to+USB+cable&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Apple Lightning connector", https://hackerapproved.com/p/lightning-connector/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).