From an end user's point of view, there is no difference in the orientation. But from the device's point of view, one orientation has pins 1-8 and the other has pins 8-1. It's up to the device to figure out which is being used. This is still considered symmetrical though.
Have you every used an Apple product? Because if you did you'd know that it doesn't matter which direction you plug it in.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_(connector)
"The male Lightning connector is symmetrical (same pins on either side), so it can be inserted into a female Lightning port in either orientation."