From FireWire in Macs to Type-C in iPhones – the Apple Connect

• Apple has introduced several ports in the past
• With the iPhone 15 we said goodbye to the Lightning connector forever
• MagSafe was introduced with the MacBook in 2006

Last year, when Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 series, it made an announcement that caught the attention of the entire world. The Cupertino-based technology giant had USB Type C charging for its iPhones, permanently eliminating the Lightning connector. This meant good news for Apple users around the world as they no longer need a separate charger for their MacBook and iPhones. The company also introduced the AirPods Pro with USB Type C during the event.

Apple’s approach to ports and connectors has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting broader technological changes, consumer demands, and the company’s relentless pursuit of simplicity and efficiency. As we prepare for the launch of the iPhone16 In less than a month, let’s take a look at how Apple has introduced different ports on its devices over the years.

Back to top: Serial interfaces and ADB

In the early years of personal computing, connectivity was a complex affair, using various proprietary ports and interfaces. Apple’s first computers, such as the Apple II (released in 1977), used serial and parallel ports to connect peripherals such as printers and modems.
In 1986, Apple introduced the Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) with the macintosh II and Apple IIGS. ADB was a proprietary interface that allowed users to connect keyboards, mice, and other slow input devices. ADB remained a standard in Macintosh computers until it was phased out in favor of USB in the late 1990s.

Apple’s early computers also featured floppy disk drives. The original Macintosh 128K (1984) featured a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, which became the industry standard.

To connect external storage devices and other peripherals, Apple also introduced the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) with the Macintosh Plus in 1986. SCSI enabled the connection of hard drives, scanners and other high-speed devices and offered a significant leap in performance over older interfaces.

The late 1990s saw the introduction of FireWire, a technology that Apple helped develop. First introduced on the Power Macintosh G3 in 1999, FireWire was designed for high-speed data transfer, making it ideal for video editing, external storage, and other demanding applications. It became a popular standard in the creative industry, especially for digital video cameras.

FireWire was available in two versions: FireWire 400 and FireWire 800, the latter of which doubled the data transfer rate.

One of the most significant changes in Apple’s approach to connectors came with the introduction of USB (Universal Serial Bus). Apple was one of the first major companies to use USB, with the iMac G3 in 1998.

The iMac turned out to be a colorful all-in-one machine that looked like it belonged in a futuristic candy store. But it wasn’t just the design that caught everyone’s attention; it was Apple’s decision to abandon the long-used Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) port in favor of USB, the Universal Serial Bus. That was a big deal.

The colorful, translucent iMac famously dispensed with the floppy disk drive and instead offered USB ports as the primary way to connect peripherals.

USB was a groundbreaking approach because it provided a universal and easy-to-use interface for connecting everything from keyboards and mice to printers and external storage. The widespread adoption of USB throughout the technology industry led to a huge ecosystem of compatible devices and further cemented Apple’s commitment to the standard.

The MAGnetic connection

Introduced with the MacBook in 2006, MagSafe was a game changer in laptop charging. The magnetic connector snapped into place so you could easily plug and unplug your charger without fear of tripping over the cable and sending your laptop flying.

MagSafe went through several iterations, including MagSafe 2, which was slimmer to fit Apple’s increasingly thin laptops. But in 2015, with the move to USB-C, Apple discontinued MagSafe on its laptops, much to the disappointment of fans.

In 2021, MagSafe returned to the MacBook Pro, but this time under the name MagSafe 3. While it’s a welcome return for many, it’s not backwards compatible with older MagSafe chargers, meaning you’ll need a new one if you’ve been holding on to an older model.

In 2011, Apple introduced Thunderbolt, a high-speed interface developed in collaboration with Intel. Thunderbolt combined data, video, and power into a single connection, offering unprecedented versatility. The first Apple devices to feature Thunderbolt were the MacBook Pro and iMac, released in early 2011.

Thunderbolt has evolved over the years, with Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt 3 offering even faster data transfer rates and greater versatility. Thunderbolt 3, introduced in 2016, merged with the USB-C standard to create a single, compact port that can handle a variety of tasks, including charging, data transfer, and video output.

As the company’s product line expanded to include mobile devices such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, Apple developed new connectors tailored to the needs of these smaller, portable devices. The 30-pin dock connector, introduced with the 3rd generation iPod in 2003, became the standard for connecting and charging iPods, iPhones, and iPads for nearly a decade.

This wide, flat connector was designed to do it all: charge, sync, and connect to a variety of accessories. Over the next decade, it became the standard interface for millions of iPods, iPhones, and iPads.

But as convenient as the 30-pin connector was, it also had its downsides. It was proprietary to Apple, meaning you were out of luck if you had a device from another manufacturer. And if you wanted to use the latest accessories, you often had to buy new cables or adapters.

Then in 2012, Apple introduced the Lightning connector with the iPhone 5. Lightning was smaller, reversible, and more durable than the 30-pin connector, making it ideal for the increasingly slimmer and sleeker designs of Apple’s mobile devices. Lightning also enabled faster data transfers and charging speeds, allowing Apple’s mobile devices to keep pace with technological advances.

Lightning quickly became a standard feature in Apple’s mobile lineup, including iPhones, iPads, and even accessories like AirPods and Apple Pencil. Despite its proprietary nature, Lightning was embraced by users due to its ease of use and reliability.

The Lightning connector was used in Apple devices for many years before being replaced by the USB Type C connector in iPhones last year.

Switching to USB Type C

After the introduction of the Lightning connector, Apple began transitioning its devices from Lightning and other proprietary connectors to USB-C. USB-C is a versatile and widely used standard that supports high-speed data transfer, video output, and power delivery in a compact, reversible form factor.

Apple first introduced USB-C in 2015 with the 12-inch MacBook, a move that initially faced some resistance due to the need for adapters and dongles. However, Apple’s commitment to USB-C has grown over time, and the port is now standard on all MacBook models, as well as the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini.

As mentioned, the most significant change came with the launch of the iPhone 15 series, which marked the end of the Lightning connector and the complete transition to USB-C on all of Apple’s mobile devices. This change not only brings the iPhone in line with other Apple devices, but also with the entire technology industry, where USB-C has become the standard for everything from smartphones to laptops.

SEE ALSO: Decades of leading tech innovation: A look back at Apple’s WWDC journey and its key announcements
How dependent some companies are on Apple’s success