Beats has the official Apple cable for CarPlay with USB-C iPhones

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. That’s created an annoying 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 effectively 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.

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 fans have embraced the Beats cable as the 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 20 cm version and a standard 1.5 meter version. Both are commonly available for around $12.

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