Another Image of New Lightning Cable with Reversible USB Connector Surfaces

Earlier this week, photos claiming to be of a new Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector surfaced. The images were said to be sourced from Apple supplier Foxconn, and were shown in a production stage. Now, frequent iOS device part leaker Sonny Dickson shares a new photo of the accessory, further indicating that a new Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector may be on the horizon:

new_lightning_cable_sd

The current Lightning cable (left) compared to new Lightning cable (right)

While the USB connector on the current Lightning cable is attached to the bottom of its metal housing, the connector of the supposedly newer cable is attached to the center. The structure of the newer cable was also spotted in previous photos, and likely indicates that this is a reversible USB connector. It is also therefore possible that the new Lightning cable could utilize USB 3.0 technology, as current Lightning cables support only USB 2.0. However, no other evidence suggests that the cable could be of the USB 3.0 variety.

Apple could start shipping new cables alongside forthcoming iOS devices starting with the iPhone 6. In addition to a reversible connector, the new Lightning cable could also feature support for high-definition audio playback on Made for iPhone accessories as rumored by Mac Otakara earlier this year. That report further claimed that Apple was preparing a new version of its In-Ear Headphones, which have not been updated since 2008.

Apple also introduced Lightning Cable MFi specifications for headphones in June, paving the way for manufacturers to create products that connect directly to iOS devices via their Lightning port rather than through a regular 3.5mm headphone jack. Those products could also see integration with revamped Lightning cables.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad mini
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2025 in 10 Minutes

Monday June 9, 2025 5:21 pm PDT by
At today's WWDC 2025 keynote event, Apple unveiled a new design that will inform the next decade of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS development, so needless to say, it was a busy day. Apple also unveiled a ton of new features for the iPhone, an overhauled Spotlight interface for the Mac, and a ton of updates that make the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iPadOS 26 Apple Newsroom

Apple Says iPadOS 26 is Compatible With These iPad Models

Monday June 9, 2025 11:22 am PDT by
Apple today announced that iPadOS 26 will be compatible with the iPad models listed below. iPadOS 26 features a new Liquid Glass design, a menu bar, improved app windowing, and more. iPadOS 26 supports the following iPad models:iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (M2 and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and...
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple 'Sherlocked' These Apps at WWDC 2025

Wednesday June 11, 2025 7:14 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC previewed a bunch of new features coming in its updated operating systems, but certain changes will have been met with dismay by third-party developers who already offer apps with equivalent or similar features. In other words, their product has been "sherlocked" by Apple. When Apple creates an app or a feature that has functionality found in a third-party app, it is referred...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Says These 13 Vehicle Brands Will Soon Offer iPhone Car Keys

Monday June 9, 2025 2:38 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote today, Apple said that 13...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26 Includes These 100 New Features and Changes for Your iPhone

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:59 am PDT by
Apple has announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes a long list of new features and changes for iPhones. The first iOS 26 developer beta is now available, and a public beta will follow next month. The update will be released later this year. iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer. Below, we have provided a high-level overview of 100 new features and changes ...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:22 pm PDT by
iOS 26 features a whole new design material that Apple calls Liquid Glass, with a focus on transparency that lets the content on your display shine through the controls. If you're not a fan of the look, or are having trouble with readability, there is a step that you can take to make things more opaque without entirely losing out on the new look. Apple has multiple Accessibility options that ...
iOS 26 Screens

Here Are All the iOS 26 Features That Require iPhone 15 Pro or Newer

Thursday June 12, 2025 4:53 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced some major changes to the iPhone experience, headlined by the new Liquid Glass redesign that's available across all compatible devices. However, several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. The following features are powered by on-device large language models and machine...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

'AirPods Pro 3' Referenced in iOS 26 Code

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:59 am PDT by
iOS 26 suggests that Apple is indeed working on a new version of the AirPods Pro that could be coming in the not too distant future. Code in iOS 26 discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser references the "AirPods Pro 3" alongside the "AirPods Pro" and the "AirPods Pro 2." There is no AirPods Pro 3 at the current time, but rumors suggest that Apple plans to introduce a new model this...

Top Rated Comments

farewelwilliams Avatar
141 months ago
hope the decision of using the 1810 mAh battery for the iPhone 6 is reversible
Score: 53 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dilster3k Avatar
141 months ago
How embarrassing that Apple did this before USB will with Type C...:rolleyes:

P.S: Am I the only one who wonders how that cable will physically fit into ordinary USB slots on laptops, etc. ?
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johnnnw Avatar
141 months ago
For the love of god please, Apple, don't patent this. :(

I want all my cables to do this now.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
technima Avatar
141 months ago
Macrumors is wrong. This has absolutely nothing to with USB 3.0 or the recently unveiled USB 3.1 type-c reversible connector. The type of connector pictured has long existed and wasn't invented by Apple. In fact this type of plug has been around since the early days of the USB 2.0 specification and it's not a standardized plug design.

Here is an example of an existing cable for sale with the exact same plug.

http://biz.tigerdirect.com/p/cables-accessories/cables/usb-cables/tripp-lite-usb-2-0-universal-reversible-cable-usb-cable-4-pin-usb-type-a-m-5-pin-micro-usb-type-b-m-1-usb-hi-speed-usb-black

I would be very happy though if this rumor ends up being true. The new type-c plug doesn't work with existing type-a plugs without an adapter (which isn't reversible).
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mdridwan47 Avatar
141 months ago
Dumb question, but how would this work ?

Nevermind, I found it

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsosQXabPs8
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sparkso Avatar
141 months ago
Why publish this drivel, for something to be reversible, it needs to be symmetrical.

You plug this in one way and it will fit, reverse it and it won't, hence its not reversible.

The white part shifts up and down.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)