Belkin doesn't plan to stop making Lightning cables any time soon

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 02 August 2024

It’s been almost a year since Apple debuted USB-C on its iPhone 15 range of phones and ditched its proprietary Lightning connector, but according to Belkin’s Head of Product Management for Australia and New Zealand, Jamie Laing-Reece, there’s still plenty of customers buying the “classic” cable.

Laing-Reece told WhistleOut Belkin has seen a massive increase in demand for USB-C cables but also no decline in demand for Lightning cables which the company puts down to the fact that that Apple has still been shipping devices with Lightning cables for the last 10 years as well as devices that support Lightning.

Belkin was still selling 30-pin cables up until around two years ago. The situation in which USB-C has supplanted Lightning is similar with a wide range of Apple products having used 30-pin chargers, including iPhones, iPads, and iPods.

"I always think back to when [Apple] transitioned from the 30-pin to Lightning back in 2012. The outcome of that was this new awareness of the technology in Lightning but also a continued demand tail [for 30-pin chargers] that lasted years off the back of that change.

Laing-Reece expects the demand for Lightning charging cables and supported products will last for the next five to 10 years.

“Consumers will continue [to expect] support for those legacy connections for years to come. Ultimately, the most exciting part about it, is it gives us a really good opportunity to educate consumers on USB-C” said Laing-Reece.

“When it comes to Apple adopting the USB-C connector over the Lightning connector in the iPhone 15, it was really, an exciting opportunity. What usually happens when Apple adopts a new technology is this huge hockey stick effect, in terms of not just consumer awareness but also in terms of adoption."

While Laing-Reece says there’s also been steady growth in the wireless charging market a few key overarching trends include more power and capacity.

“Consumers are looking to get a faster charge or charge higher-powered devices in a quicker period of time, or they’ve got more accessories that they need to charge all at once.”

These trends are translating into an increase in demand for very compact but high-powered, solutions such as GaN chargers.

Looking for a new mobile plan?

These are the most popular SIM-only mobile plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick $23 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth $12.00/mth Min. cost $12 Go to Site	$12.00/mth Min. cost $12	Go to Site
#2	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $39 Prepaid 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Grab a $39 SIM for $13 – save $26. Hurry! Offer ends 05.10.26. Terms Apply $39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Go to Site	$39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#3	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo Editor's Pick Medium Mobile Plan 40GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: 50% off for first 4 mths! Get the Medium Mobile Plan for $15/mth for first 4 mths. New and returning mobile customers only. Ends 27.10 $30.00/mth Min. cost $15 Go to Site	$30.00/mth Min. cost $15	Go to Site
#4	TPG Editor's Pick	TPG Editor's Pick 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#5	Yomojo	Yomojo Starter 29GB Plan 29GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network $24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#6	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 30GB 5G Mobile SIM 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: 50% off plan fees for 4 months - $15/mth for 4 months then $30/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $30.00/mth Min. cost $15 Go to Site	$30.00/mth Min. cost $15	Go to Site
#7	Pivotel	Pivotel 25GB Mobile Swift Plan 25GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $11.45/mth for first 6 months, then $22.90/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45 Go to Site	$11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45	Go to Site
#8	Swoop	Swoop 30GB SIM Only 5G 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $11 off for first 6 months - $14/mth for first 6 months then $25/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#9	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small SIM Only Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $45.00/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45.00/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#10	felix mobile	felix mobile felix 25GB Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 5G/4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 50% off your first 3 mths when you switch to felix. $15/mth for first 3 mths, then $30/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T+Cs apply $30.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$30.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site

Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

Read full bio