Video Shows New Lightning Cable with Reversible USB Connector in Action - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Video Shows New Lightning Cable with Reversible USB Connector in Action

by

Last Friday, a report and photos of a new Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector surfaced, which was followed by another image from frequent iOS device part leaker Sonny Dickson. Now, Dickson has shared a new short video of the Lightning cable in action, showing its USB connector being reversed and plugged in both ways.


Apple could start shipping a new Lightning cable alongside the next wave of iOS device releases this fall, which will likely start with the iPhone 6 next month. It is unknown if the updated cable will contain any new features aside from a reversible USB connector, although past rumors have pointed to support for high-definition audio playback.

An Apple patent discussing a reversible USB connector was also published last month, and discussed a more user-friendly design compared to current cables. However, it is unknown if this new cable will face challenges from the likes of California company UltraTek, which already holds a patent itself for a reversible connector and currently sells cables through major online retailers.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
Read Full Article • 152 comments
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Read Full Article • 111 comments
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Read Full Article • 108 comments

Top Rated Comments

gaximus Avatar
gaximus
158 months ago
What is so wrong with that statement? Car manufactures don't like constant change! Everyone knows the technology in cars is usually two years behind the times. So it's a killer to find a car with a current lighting cable. Plus all those cars with standard USB ports are hit & miss and now Apple has a new USB connection.

----------



Yea but in car they have to use STANDARD USB ports in their cars. This new lighting cable will mean that one with have to bring their own cable. Plus all those speaker docks will now be obsolete again.

This uses the standard USB port. It'll work in old computers or anything with a USB port in it
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
boechat
158 months ago
MacRumors content image

Apple, please
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sputnikv Avatar
sputnikv
158 months ago
I keep thinking Apple CarPlay is going to nowhere if Apple keeps changing the connection port every two years.

What an absurd statement.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Azzin Avatar
Azzin
158 months ago
But who can use the reversible USB right now?! Nobody.. All usual USB connectors are non-reversable - so, doe snot matter we will have a cable with reversible - it will not fit the 3.0 connectors .. And Apple will push us to buy an additional adapter - USB 3.0 --> USB 3.1

For the love of god and all that's holy...

These "reversible" cables will work just fine in ALL & EVERY USB port that exists today.

They've just changed the design of the USB end so it will go in your (current) USB ports whichever way you put it in.

No adapters, no dramas, just a newer design of USB connection that works whatever way you put it in to any USB port (think Lightning cable).

Why is this so hard to grasp?? :confused:
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
iLoveiTunes
158 months ago
4 stories on a cable.... it better be something special :rolleyes::rolleyes:
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
ScottishCaptain
158 months ago
Apple already has problems with their cables continually falling apart at the slightest sign of duress.

I'm curious to know what people think is going to happen with this new USB connector now that Apple has removed half the support material from the inside to facilitate the reversible feature. Hint: it's going to behave like all their other cables. The moment you abuse it or bump it in the wrong way, it's going to snap or fracture and fail.

I'm sure they'll be heralded for their "revolutionary thinking" on this one, but there was a reason why USB cables were built they way they were. I would much rather a standard plug with an indent on the top or something else you can feel (to determine which way is up) then a cable that will be twice as fragile and probably cost twice as much to replace as well.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments