Change Lightning C49 to C89 tips

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Change Lightning C49 to C89 tips

On Dec 19, 2018 PaulToonUK asked, "I have heard that Apple cables will be using the C89 tip instead of the C48 tip... but I cannot find out what the difference is? ... will there be any benefit to charge cables that use this?"

I, too, would like to know the answer to that question. Unfortunately, nobody replied (and the board won't let me reply, presumably because of the question's age).

On one hand, I've found ads for Lightning / USB A cables which claim, "C89 terminal is more durable and stable than original C48."

On the other hand, in this illustration of the two connectors it appears that the C48 contacts are gold-plated and the C89 contacts are a base metal, suggesting that the C89 is a cost-reduced variant of the C48.

Does anyone really know?

Dave

Posted on Apr 7, 2021 4:38 PM

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Answer 1

DavidABurton Author

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Apr 7, 2021 4:41 PM in response to DavidABurton

Sorry, I botched the title. It should have been, "Change Lightning C48 to C89 tips."

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Answer 2

Apr 7, 2021 4:47 PM in response to DavidABurton

User to user support forum.

No one here can answer your question.

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Answer 3

DavidABurton Author

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Apr 7, 2021 10:22 PM in response to DavidABurton

Correction: I've learned that the new connectors are not plated with a base metal, they are plated with rhodium+ruthenium. That's an upgrade, not a downgrade.

Rhodium is harder than gold, so that probably makes the C89 connectors more durable than the C48 connectors. Rhodium is also far more expensive than gold, but ruthenium is less expensive than gold, so I don't know now the new plating affects costs.

I don't know what other differences there might be between the new and old connectors.

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Change Lightning C49 to C89 tips

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