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Will the iPhone 6 include a reversible USB cable? Recent Apple patent makes it possible.

Reversible USB

The iPhone 6’s packaging might not only include a redesigned smartphone, but a redesigned USB to Lightning cable. While it’s unlikely that Apple will yet-again change the Lightning port introduced with the 2012 iPhone 5 anytime in the near future, a redesigned version of the USB plug could be ready for this fall. Sketchy photos of a reversible USB cable first surfaced on the web last week, and Sonny Dickson yesterday shared another shot of the cables via Twitter.

Like the Lightning connector, the benefit of a reversible USB connector is that it can be inserted into a USB port in either direction. This makes it easier to insert the connector in darkly lit or hard to reach places (like behind a desk). Due to uncertain sourcing, the first batch of photos did not seem completely believable, but digging a little deeper into the situation reveals that Apple readying a reversible USB iPhone cable is a real possibility…

Screenshot 2014-08-17 19.05.10

Late last week, the official USB Promotor Group announced the completion for the design of a new “Type C” USB 3.0 cable. One of the most notable new features? Being reversible. The problem is that this cable would not fit in current USB ports on Apple computers, chargers, and other accessories. Just two years out from the transition from the 30-pin connector to Lightning, it seems unlikely that Apple would want to transition the new USB standard across all of its cables, accessories, and Mac computers. With that in mind, it is easy to dismiss rumors of Apple moving to a reversible USB design.

USBPatent

However, an Apple patent filed in early 2013 (PDF) and uncovered earlier this summer reveals Apple’s own in-house work on a reversible USB cable (pictured above). Here’s Apple’s description of the invention:

Embodiments can provide reversible or dual orientation USB plug connectors for mating with standard USB receptacle connectors, e.g., a standard Type A USB receptacle connector. Accordingly, the present invention may be compatible with any current or future electronic device that includes a standard USB receptacle connector. USB plug connectors according to the present invention can have a 180 degree symmetrical, double orientation design, which enables the plug connector to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two intuitive orientations

As you can see in the description, Apple’s reversible USB design is compatible with the standard Type A port (on any “current or future” device), which Apple has utilized for several years:

Apple USB Support Document

Another piece of evidence pointing to this possibility is that backwards compatible reversible USB cables already exist. Company Tripp Lite has been selling them online for years.

Some more photos of the rumored reversible Apple USB cable have surfaced. Here’s a slideshow of the latest ones:

So while it appears extremely unlikely that Apple will soon move to the upcoming, reversible USB 3.0 Type-C standard, the previously leaked photos and Apple patent point to the strong possibility of Apple redesigning its iPhone USB connector this fall. If Apple does make that move, it also seems likely that Apple will begin shipping the updated cable with future devices like the next iPads, iPods, accessories, and, of course, the so-far mythical iBand.

If Apple does indeed launch a reversible USB cable, we’ll likely first hear about it at the September 9th iPhone 6 event. Besides the new design, the iPhone 6 will include a sharper display, new sensors, and an improved camera system.

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Comments

  1. o0smoothies0o - 10 years ago

    Except the ‘mythical iBand’ won’t be wire-charged.

  2. Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

    This would be really cool.

  3. Steve Lawrence - 10 years ago

    Jeez, why didn’t anybody do this before! Genius!

    • robinlmp - 10 years ago

      Because it will presumably rely on the clever electronics in the lightning connector to make sure the right pins go to the right pins

      • Nope, why would it? they just have to wire up both sides equally and they’re done. That’s the same on the lightning connector – there are 8 pins on each side which are all wired up to 8 connections

    • chipsy86 - 10 years ago

      Someone did :) Tripp Lite launched a reversible USB type-a connector/cable last year.
      http://www.tripplite.com/products/series/sid/1048

  4. chudman85 - 10 years ago

    Yay looks like another breakable cable from Apple I work in retail and the amount of people with broken 30pin or lightning cables

    • scumbolt2014 - 10 years ago

      My family has had nunerous 30-pin cables. Not one has ever broke. Can’t blame the cable for careless use…

  5. Pierre Calixte - 10 years ago

    better solution would be to get rid of the traditional sized usb entirely. Apple got rid of some important ports before like ethernet and just relied on adapters.

    Lets just say they got rid of the traditional usb in favor of lightning, then they could have two lightning ports in the space of one usb and create even thinner products.

    • well, rather not. They were able to phase out Ethernet as most people use WiFi for mobile computers anyway these days. But USB won’t fade away anytime soon so they’re not gonna remove it from their laptops for lightning ports

    • Fabio Pigagnelli - 10 years ago

      are you serious?
      i use USB sticks on daily base. I’ve have several external drives, etc.
      An adapter might makes sense for stuff you don’t use on daily base.
      but for USB thisis not the case.

      • standardpull - 10 years ago

        No, I think he means unloading the old style ports. Unfortunately almost all devices require them and to I see a multi-year transition strategy being required.

  6. standardpull - 10 years ago

    Seems unlikely given that there is a new, compact reversible USB3 cable standard. The USB standard used on the majority of devices today is nearing 20 years old and was simply amazing 20 years ago.

  7. Cormac O Connor - 10 years ago

    Most USB ports are wide enough to fit in the current USB connections if this has the connection on both sides surely it will be too thick to fit into most USB ports?

  8. kirnbichler - 10 years ago

    These reversible plugs already do exist, in a variant for USB2.0, though.

    See Delock 83373 (use your favourite internet search engine)

  9. I get that people plug these in the wrong way and it’s frustrating, but it really that big of a deal? Yes, lightning is a revelation, but I have never once had an issue with the other end going in the right way. That’s not to say it’s not awesome – it is and Apple should continue to push forward, but I guess I just don’t see the use case for this.

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  10. coolfactor - 10 years ago

    An unfortunate headline. It’s a patent “application”. It took me all of 5 minutes to find the existing reversible USB connection being sold online. I highly double that Apple doesn’t know about it. Let’s hope they do the right thing rather than use their sheer size to push this through.

    • danbridgland - 10 years ago

      I work in IT, I see idiot users on a daily basis who have plugged in USB cables and devices into the ethernet port.

      Why the USB consortium agreed an interface standard which clearly clashed with a long standing and highly successful interface I will never know. Just 1 mm thinner and it would fall right out.

      It’s time to kill USB A.

    • Peter Nosko (@PNosko) - 10 years ago

      A patent is for a specific solution, not an idea. In case you’re about the Tripp Lite, did you notice that it provides a reversible type A but requires a type B? Apple’s patent works in existing type A connectors.

  11. Peter Nosko (@PNosko) - 10 years ago

    Since USB allows for an undetectable source of malware, I’d prefer to see Apple go proprietary and do away with USB altogether.