In the era of 30-pin connector, most docks were compatible with most protection cases we use for our iPhone. Since Apple introduced lightning connector for iPhone 5 (and newer models), some people are complaining about having to remove their iPhone case if they want to use it with a dock. The same problem also applies to speakers with lightning dock.

There are two kinds of lightning dock (or lightning cable in general): MFi certified products and non-certified products. Using non-certified products of lightning cables or docks will display a warning message in devices with iOS 7. It means, Apple actually know and can detect which third-party accessories are certified, and they can make those accessories stop working at any time. I always choose to get cables and docks with MFi certification. They’re generally more expensive, but well made. And I like the feeling that my cables and docks will continue to work whenever I upgrade my iOS.

belkin-lightning-docks

Products with MFi certification must follow some rules that Apple has set. For lightning dock, there must be a base of a minimum length 25mm under the connector. This is the main reason many cases are not compatible with lightning docks, because those “base” bars prevent the connector to be fully connected to the iPhone.

Why would Apple set that rule about 25mm base (or longer) in the first place? With the old 30pin connector, the connector width itself is enough to guarantee stable connection between dock and phone. Lightning connector is made very compact for better portability, and to allow Apple making even thinner products. A connector with that size could not ensure stable and firm docking, unless a stability bar is made compulsory. Without stable and firm docking, a connector can potentially damage the phone because it could not support the iPhone weight properly, or when user is being careless in undocking the phone.

belkin-lightning-dock-base

For my iPhone 5S, I choose Belkin’s lightning dock. As you can see in the photo above (circled), there is a 25mm bar right below the lightning connector. That bar is the one holding our iPhone secure and firm, but also the one could potentially prevent proper connection when incompatible case is attached to our phone.

iphone-5s-cases-dock-compatibility

For illustration, let me show you three different iPhone cases.

Case A is Tunewear brand (Tuneshell Rubber Frame model). It has a wide opening at the bottom side of our iPhone, so this case will definitely compatible with most lightning docks.

Case B is Case Mate brand (Naked Tough model). It has a 27mm opening around the lightning slot, so it is compatible with my Belkin dock. But it might be NOT compatible with other docks that has more than 25mm bar. Remember than 25mm bar is a minimum length set by Apple, I have seen some docks and speaker that implements >25mm bars.

Case C is Belkin brand (Grip Candy Sheer model). It has less-than 25 mm opening around the lightning slot, so it is not compatible with my Belkin dock and any other docks or speakers with MFi certification. It’s interesting since case C is the same brand as the dock. So having the same brand does not guarantee a case’s compatibility with a lightning dock.

Notice that my Belkin dock has a reasonably flexible area around the base bar. Plus the base bar itself can move a little bit back and forth to adjust with different thickness of cases. If the dock is having a fit form factor, it might be not compatible with ANY case. Just like Apple’s own dock for iPhone 5S is different from iPhone 5C dock because each dock is designed to fit the phone’s exact dimension without any case. So these docks are not compatible, even with Apple’s own official cases for iPhone 5/5S or iPhone 5C.

I hope this little guide will help you to find good lightning dock and iPhone case that are compatible to each other.