When Apple moved the iPhone to USB-C, it left behind more than just the Lightning port. New iPhone comes with a USB-C charging cable, but many cars still use USB-A ports for CarPlay.
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That’s created a gap for drivers: no first-party cable to connect a USB-C iPhone to a USB-A car. Apple’s official workaround is a $29 USB-C to Lightning adapter.
Beats, an Apple brand, offers this USB-A to USB-C cable for half the price that is the official solution for using CarPlay with USB-C iPhones.
Apple bought Beats in 2014, acquiring the headphone business and Beats Music, the streaming service that became the foundation for Apple Music.
A decade later, Apple started using the Beats brand for more than just audio gear, beginning with Beats-branded iPhone cases.
Any USB-A to USB-C cable will work
A few months after that, Apple launched the first Beats-branded line of USB cables which includes the USB-A to USB-C cable.
CarPlay users have embraced the Beats cable as the official Apple solution, favoring it over options from Belkin and other third-party accessory makers.
The Beats USB-A to USB-C cable comes in three braided color options (Bolt Black, Rapid Red, and Surge Stone) and is available in two lengths: a short 8-inch (20 cm) version and a longer 5-foot (1.5 meter) version.
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