Apple Launches USB-C To Lightning Cable For Retina MacBook Connectivity

All of the hubub during Apple's "Loop You In" event yesterday focused on new gadgets and price reductions, so it was easy to overlook the reveal of the USB-C to Lightning Cable - a fix to a problem that has plagued Apple fans for quite some time.

To date, if you were the proud owner of the Retina MacBook that was introduced last year, then you couldn't connect an iPad or iPhone to it. Yes, the new laptop was cutting-edge with its thin and light design, but it had only one port - a USB-C port that was to be used for charging, along with any other connectivity that you required. Furthermore, Apple, for whatever reason, declined to create a USB-C to Lightning cable of its own, requiring users to rely on an adapter instead.

Apple has fixed this issue with the introduction of its own USB-C to Lightning cable which comes in 3-foot and 6.5-foot variants, priced at $25 and $35, respectively. The Lightning to USB-C cables will ship within two days of ordering for free, but they are currently not available for in-store pickup.

"This USB-C cable connects your iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to your computer's USB-C port for syncing and charging. You can also use the cable with an Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter to take advantage of the fast charging feature on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro," notes Apple.

The cables are now available to order on the Apple Store, and while they work with the newly revealed 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the cables are particularly beneficial to those who own the 12.9-inch iPad Pro which launched in 2015. Not only does it allow for connectivity, but if you're looking to take advantage of the faster charging feature on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, then you can pay an additional $49 for Apple's 29W USB-C Power Adapter.

A bit expensive, yes, but that's par for the course for Apple.

As for what devices are actually compatible with the Lightning to USB-C cables? Here's a list:

iPhone Models

iPhone 5

iPhone 5c

iPhone 5s

iPhone SE

iPhone 6

iPhone 6 Plus

iPhone 6s

iPhone 6s Plus

iPad Models

iPad with Retina display

iPad mini

iPad mini 2

iPad Air

iPad Air 2

iPad mini 3

iPad mini 4

iPad Pro (9.7-inch)

iPad Pro (12.9-inch)

iPod Models

iPod nano 7th Generation

iPod touch 5th Generation 32 GB/64 GB

iPod touch 5th Generation 16 GB

iPod touch 6th Generation

The added functionality is nice, though it's certainly annoying that after a year of waiting, users can spend at least $25 to get a cable that has only one specific use. Then again, it's better late than never.

Both the 3-foot and 6.5-foot cables are available for purchase on Apple's Online Store.