Apple has quietly added another Lightning adapter to its online store, this one converting the Lightning port found on the newest iPhone, iPads and iPod Touch models to a micro USB port. The adapter is capable of syncing as well as charging when used with a compatible micro USB charger of sufficient output to charge the relevant device. Apple had previously offered a 30-pin dock connector-to-micro USB adapter, but limited its sale to Europe only. The new adapter is likely to be sold worldwide and should meet EU criteria.
The rationale behind the EU settling on the micro USB port as a standard for charging and syncing phones was to protect consumers from a mass of proprietary chargers and ports that weren’t compatible with any other companies’ phone, or even other models from the same manufacturer. A standard connector also means less waste from chargers that are no longer compatible with newer phones.
