Written by Bob
Edited on
12 March 2024
·
16:01
Which connector does my smartphone or tablet have?
To charge your smartphone or transfer data to another device, you plug a cable into your phone. In order to do this, the connector of your smartphone has to match the connector of the cable. Don't know what type of connector you have or what a certain connector looks like? I'll explain it to you in this article.
Lightning port
Apple has its own connector, which you'll only find on Apple devices: Apple Lightning. This oval connector looks like a USB-C port, but there's no thin, metal connector in the middle. All iPhone models up to the iPhone 14 have a Lightning connector, just like older iPad models. You can charge accessories like AirPods and the Magic Keyboard via a Lightning connector.
USB-C port
Most newer devices have a USB-C connector. This is a small, oval connector that looks like the Apple Lightning connector. The difference is that there's a thin, metal connector in the center of the USB-C port. The iPhone 15 is the first iPhone with a USB-C port. Newer iPad models have a USB-C port. In addition, all smartphones and tablets from Samsung and other brands also have a USB-C port.
micro USB port
On old or more affordable Android smartphones, you'll sometimes still find a micro USB port. A micro USB port isn't oval, but angular. You can do the same things with this connector, like charging your phone and transferring data to your computer, for example. Devices like e-readers and headphones also often still have a micro USB port.
Older connectors: mini USB and 30 pin
There are 2 older connectors which new products don't use, but which you can still find on older devices. Mini USB is the predecessor of micro USB. Older Android smartphone and mobile phones for senior citizens still have this connector. With Apple, the 30-pin connector was the predecessor of the Lightning connector. This was used for iPod models and iPhone models before the iPhone 5.
