When Apple moved the iPhone to USB-C with the iPhone 15, it left behind more than just the Lightning port. While each new iPhone comes with a USB-C charging cable, many cars still use USB-A ports to enable wired 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 workaround? A $29 USB-C to Lightning adapter—not exactly what CarPlay users were hoping for. More recently, Beats has stepped in with the cable Apple never made. And since Beats is an Apple brand, this USB-A to USB-C cable is effectively the official solution for using CarPlay with USB-C iPhones.
Apple bought Beats in 2014, acquiring both 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—including the long-awaited USB-A to USB-C cable. While it’s far from the first of its kind, some CarPlay fans have embraced the Beats cable as the de facto Apple-backed solution, favoring it over less expensive options from Belkin and other third-party accessory makers.
The Beats USB-A to USB-C cable comes in two braided finishes—Bolt Black and Surge Stone—and is available in two lengths: a short 20 cm version and a standard 1.5 m version. It’s priced at $18.99, though the longer version in black is currently cheaper on Amazon thanks to a 15% off coupon. A two-pack is also available, offering additional savings per cable.
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