WHAT IS USB-C, THE CHARGING SOCKET THAT REPLACED APPLE'S LIGHTNING CABLE?

Bye, Lightning cable. Hello, USB-C.

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Apple is ditching its in-house iPhone charging plug and falling in line with the rest of the tech industry by adopting a more widely used connection standard. A big part of the reason is a European Union common charging rule that’s coming soon for the 27-nation bloc.

Here’s a look at the USB-C plug and what it means for consumers:

WHAT IS USB-C AND HOW CAN I TELL IT APART FROM OTHER PLUGS?

The first part of the acronym stands for Universal Serial Bus, and it replaces earlier versions of the USB cables used on everything from printers and hard drives to computer mice and Kindle readers.

The USB-C plug comes in a different shape than its predecessors — an elongated oval. It’s also symmetrical and reversible, which eliminates one of the common gripes about previous versions like the rectangular USB-A connectors because there’s no wrong way to plug it in.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT USB-C?