4 methods to place your outdated Apple Lightning cables to good use

When Apple launched the iPhone 15 series in 2023, it made a big change that will influence all future iPhones. It modified the telephone’s charging port from Lightning to USB-C. Whereas this was a welcome replace that made charging extra handy, it left many individuals with a set of outdated Lightning cables that immediately grew to become ineffective. Moreover, AirPods now depend on USB-C, and iPads have been utilizing USB-C for years, making Lightning cables additional out of date.

Chances are high, in case you’ve been utilizing an iPhone for awhile, you’ve a bunch of outdated Lightning cables mendacity round from all of the years Apple used it as its proprietary charging port. Even in case you’re not utilizing an iPhone, iPad, or AirPods with a Lightning connector anymore, there are many methods to reuse your outdated Lightning cables as an alternative of throwing them within the rubbish. Listed here are 4 simple methods to breathe new life into your outdated Lightning cables.

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Donate them to these in want

Your loved ones and buddies would possibly need them, or area people teams

One easy method I removed a few of my outdated Lightning cables was by giving them away to individuals who might use them. I’ve family and friends with iPhones that also use Lightning for his or her gadgets, so I used to be capable of give away just a few of my cables to them for good use. Not everybody upgrades their iPhone each few years; some individuals I do know maintain theirs for 4 or 5 years, so Lightning cables will nonetheless be helpful for them for some time. One other simple method to eliminate your outdated Lightning cables is to supply them to coworkers who would possibly nonetheless be utilizing older iPhones as nicely.

Even when you do not know anybody who wants Lightning cables, you may nonetheless donate them to native charities, faculties, neighborhood teams, or shelters that is likely to be in want. Since Apple switched to USB-C on the iPhone two years in the past, many iPhones in use nonetheless depend on Lightning cables, and this development is more likely to persist for years to come back. Donating your outdated Lightning cables is an easy method to give them a brand new life and maintain them out of the trash.

3

Maintain them in your automotive

A passenger might have one

One other useful method to reuse outdated Lightning cables is to all the time carry just a few in your automotive. I nonetheless have many buddies with iPhones that use Lightning ports, so once I’m driving them someplace, I typically get requested, “Can I cost my telephone?” Because of my family and friends, I all the time maintain a few Lightning cables in my automotive in case somebody wants a cost. One in all my buddies continues to be utilizing a third-generation iPhone SE as a result of he is not giving up the house button, so it appears like I am going to have to maintain at the least one Lightning cable in my automotive for a very long time. And your automotive is only one instance — it’s also possible to maintain an outdated Lightning cable at your desk at work or in your journey bag, in case you or another person wants one immediately.

2

Repurpose your outdated Lightning cables

Attempt utilizing an adapter, or get artistic with arts and crafts

In case you have just a few Lightning cables you would not thoughts protecting for your self, you may simply repurpose them to your different gadgets utilizing adapters. Apple sells a Lightning to USB-C adapter that helps charging, knowledge, and audio, but it surely prices $30, which is a bit steep simply to repurpose an outdated cable. Yow will discover many cheap adapters on Amazon that merely convert Lightning to USB-C, permitting you to reuse your outdated cable. That is a straightforward method to reserve a Lightning cable for your self in case you ever have to energy up an outdated iPhone sometime, whereas nonetheless protecting the cable in use along with your newer gadgets, as an alternative of letting it collect mud.

Other than utilizing an adapter, it’s also possible to get artistic along with your outdated Lightning cables. I’ve an outdated Lightning cable that is now not working, so I’ve turned it right into a toy for my cat once I need to maintain it entertained. My cat is obsessive about something string-like, and so they’ll chase it round and bat it for hours (simply watch out to not depart it out for them to chew on). There are tons of different artistic methods to reuse an outdated Lightning cable, like turning it right into a bookmark, an decoration, and even crafting funky shoelaces if it is lengthy sufficient. You might additionally incorporate it into arts and crafts tasks, like making jewellery or cosplay gear.

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You possibly can all the time simply recycle them

Should you do not want them, recycling is an effective possibility too and helps the planet

Lastly, if in case you have a bunch of outdated Lightning cables you can’t eliminate or repurpose, your best choice is to recycle them as an alternative of throwing them away. Doing so helps scale back waste and protects the surroundings. Recycling outdated Lightning cables permits the uncooked supplies inside, like aluminum and copper, to be reused for making new cables fairly than ending up in a landfill if thrown within the trash.

Should you’re trying to recycle your outdated Lightning cables, there is a good probability a neighborhood e-waste recycling heart will settle for them. There is a useful web site referred to as Earth911.com, which includes a search operate that lets you choose the merchandise you need to recycle, like cables, and enter your ZIP code to seek out close by recycling facilities that settle for it. In case you have a Finest Purchase close by, that is likely to be the best method to recycle e-waste, since most locations settle for as much as three gadgets per family per day, together with TVs, laptops, cellphones, cables, and different digital gadgets. So subsequent time it’s essential recycle outdated batteries, contemplate bringing your outdated Lightning cables as nicely, and allow them to be reused.