Apple Promises iPhone 5-Compatible HDMI and VGA Cables Coming Soon - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Promises iPhone 5-Compatible HDMI and VGA Cables Coming Soon

There has been some consternation over the lack of backwards compatibility with the new Lightning dock connector in the iPhone 5. The Lightning to 30-pin adapter doesn't pass any video and may not work with all audio docks.

One MacRumors reader expressed particular concern over the lack of video support, noting that many in-car aftermarket entertainment systems use the video out function of the 30-pin connector to display and control apps from head units. It seems, however, that Apple does have at least a partial solution.

Lightningadapter
As The Verge reports, Apple is building Lightning to HDMI and Lightning to VGA adapters and quotes an Apple spokesperson as saying they "will be available in the coming months." Without these adapters, iPhone 5 owners' only option to output video from the device would be AirPlay.

The Verge doesn't reveal pricing, but the Apple Digital AV Adapter -- the 30-pin to HDMI adapter for the iPad and iPhone 4S -- is $39 direct from Apple.

Popular Stories

Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

11 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro

Monday May 11, 2026 9:01 am PDT by
We're only four months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a sea change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a...
iOS 26

iOS 26.5 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.5

Monday May 11, 2026 5:09 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26.5 after a few months of beta testing, and while it doesn't have the Siri features we were hoping for since those are being held until iOS 27, there are a handful of useful changes worth knowing about. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. End-to-End Encryption for RCS Support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and...
General Apps Reddit Feature

Reddit Starts Blocking Mobile Website, Pushing Users to App Instead

Monday May 11, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Social network Reddit recently began blocking mobile visitors to its website while pushing them to download the official Reddit app, and it's fair to say that the move is not going down well with users. If you visit reddit.com on your iPhone today, you may see a new popup that can't be dismissed, asking you to "get the app to keep using Reddit." A Reddit spokesperson told Ars Technica...

Top Rated Comments

OrangeSVTguy Avatar
178 months ago
Apple should provide 30pin to Lightning adapters for free with each new iDevice
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applesith Avatar
178 months ago
Why not have all adapters and cables ready for launch?
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigjnyc Avatar
178 months ago
At the rate they're going these adapters are going to cost $99
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
faroZ06 Avatar
178 months ago
Watch as 3rd-party adaptors come out that cost $5. Apple really needs to decrease the prices on these or make some of them come free with the iPod.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
realeric Avatar
178 months ago
Lighting to 30 pin adapter should be $3, not $30. :mad:
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dwalls90 Avatar
178 months ago
This launch seems way too unplanned and rushed.

To be honest, I DO NOT think Steve would have allowed this kind of disorganization:

- New interface LACKING functionality which will be "coming soon".
- Lack of Apple case/bumper, at launch at least.
- Lack of adapter available at launch.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)