Both Android and iOS are drastically different from one another, and so is the way they charge up or share data.
Apple introduced the Lightning connector in 2012, with the unveiling of iPhone 5, which replaced the wide 30-pin connector that it came with. Android, however, stuck with its trusty micro-USB port.?
Android users envied the reversible Lightning connector, which was really convenient to plug into. However, in early 2015, out of nowhere, a Chinese smartphone maker called Letv introduced the first USB Type-C connector on its Letv One Max smartphone. This port was all we wanted on a smartphone. It was reversible, which made it really convenient to plug in without the pain of incorrectly inserting it; similar to the Lightning connector. Moreover, it also held other interesting capabilities, like faster charging speeds, faster data transfer rates as well as the ability to display content on a bigger screen. Something the tiny micro-USB port could never do.
Now we have almost all flagship Android smartphones adopting USB Type-C in their smartphone, along with many mid-range and even budget devices. However, not all Type-C are the same which causes immense confusion.
Many Type-C ports on smartphones might look like Type-C but under the hood is an entirely different story. USB Type-C was built along with USB 3.1 technology, which enabled the features it promises. However, many smartphone makers have just used the port design instead of its actual hardware to cut costs.
For example, OnePlus, even with its latest OnePlus 5T, holds a Type-C port with a USB 2.0 interface. This means it basically is a micro-USB port with the reversible Type-C connector. It lacks all the goodness USB Type-C is known for. Sure it has Dash Charging that charges your phone insanely fast, but it lacks the display sharing capability or even a fast data transfer.?
There are other smartphone brands too that choose to add a Type-C connector with a USB 2.0 interface. And that¡¯s where the problem actually rests. We have laptops and other devices that use Type-C for connectivity, and if you thought that you could use your smartphone¡¯s Type-C cable for charging it or sharing the screen, you¡¯ll be in for a huge surprise. That machine won¡¯t charge, as the cable isn¡¯t capable of handling the bandwidth. So the entire premise of USB Type-C¡¯s universality goes moot.
Curse Apple all you want for overpricing its devices and accessories, but one thing you to know remains constant is the large plethora of Lightning compatible devices to choose from. From speaker docks to headphones, to other accessories, your Lightning port will support all these devices as long as they hold the Lightning connector.
With Apple removing the 3.5mm headphone jack, brands have started working on Lightning headphones, that works on all iPhones, including the dated iPhone 5. And although there aren¡¯t many options available, the current collection is nothing short of awesome.?
In case of USB Type-C, since Android is so vividly scattered including so many smartphone makers in the game, each smartphone maker could decide to create a custom connectivity with its manufactured headphones. Basically, even when smartphones have a USB Type-C port, brands can choose to have a unique configuration that will only be compatible with headphones manufactured by them.?
For example, Samsung devices only being compatible with Samsung headphones, or headphones made in collaboration with Samsung. This brings us back to the sad old days, where every phone maker had their unique port to connect to headphones, which entirely kills the overall universality factor.
As I mentioned earlier, not all Android smartphones with USB Type-C support screen sharing due to the lack of the USB 3.1 interface, but on an iPhone, a simple Lightning to HDMI adapter would make it instantly compatible.
In the end, it all boils down to this. USB Type-C was supposed to be this amazing platform that could enable people to carry just one cable to do a bunch of things together, but the poor implementation has led to an even more complicated and cluttered ecosystem that just makes Apple¡¯s Lightning connector far more practical despite USB Type-C¡¯s diverse capabilities.?