The end of Apple's Lightning port era - here's what comes next

Apple might no longer be selling new devices with the Lightning port, but you should still hold onto your cables for now. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Apple launched the Lightning port in September 2012, debuting it on the iPhone 5. Also: 5 products Apple silently scrapped while unveiling the iPhone 16e this week Since then, it has been fitted to billions of devices, including iPhones, iPads, and AirPods charging cases. From the very moment it was unveiled, we knew it would one day be replaced. With the release of the iPhone 16e, that day has officially arrived. Durable but poor quality The Lightning connector was a revolutionary 8-pin, reversible port that replaced the bulky 30-pin dock connector found on iPods and earlier iPhones. It was iconic -- a small, streamlined design that looked futuristic and was far easier to use compared to other ports of the time, such as the microUSB connector commonly used on Android devices. Also: This clever 4-in-1 keychain charger has made trav ... Read full article.