Except it’s a proprietary piece of junk stuck on USB 3.1 (and I love my thunderbolt connectors too much to let it slide), that can’t offer proper power delivery because of power pin literally burning out.

The only thing they did good is fixing the need to check cable orientation before inserting it (yes, you don’t have to try three times, you can just actually use your eyes, USB-A connector’s orientations can easily be told apart just by two square thingies on each of it’s sides).

But as USB-C came out two years later, it wiped the floor with lightning. Anyone saying otherwise is either insane, didn’t read the specs or purposefully misleading you. And only now Apple is switching over. Freaking 7 years later. Though, not because they realize how inferior their connector is, but because they were made to.

Speaking as an Apple user - I am heavily invested in their ecosystem - I am extremely happy that Lightning is on death’s door. I fully agree with the EU and I am very grateful to them for forcing Apple’s hand.

That being said, your point about USB-A falls apart when you consider any situation where your vision is even partially obstructed. Such as; back of the computer, back of your monitors, a dock unless you’re holding it, etc etc.

What I’m hoping will happen:

  1. Apple sells only USB-C to USB-C cables
  2. Apple users start requesting more USB-C ports on motherboards / desktop computers
  3. Mouse/Keyboard manufacturers produce USB-C alternatives of their products
  4. Motherboards move even more to USB-C
  5. GOTO 3 until USB-A becomes as legacy as VGA or PS/2
  6. We hopefully never see another single orientation external cable ever again.

A lad can dream…

You don’t need to check female port orientation, it’s always the same, pins inside the port are looking at the board the connector is soldered to. Of course, unless manufacturer decided to do something funny, but no standard is protected from that.

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