Apple iPhone Will Reportedly Zap Lightning Port For Universal USB-C In 2023
By Alexa Heah, 13 May 2022
Even though fans have yet to get our hands on the iPhone 14, there are already leaks emerging about the iPhone 15.
This week, reputable tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that Apple will likely ditch its own Lightning port in favor of a USB-C port on some or all models of the iPhone 15 lineup, which could launch in the second half of 2023.
As MacRumors notes, this would be a significant departure for the brand, which has used the proprietary Lightning port on its smartphones since the iPhone 5, despite most of the industry having already switched to USB-C.
But if Kuo’s insights are true, and that a USB-C port would allow for quicker transfer and charging speeds, it would explain why Apple is finally caving in to the change. It could also be due to pressure from the EU to standardize ports across all smartphones.
Plus, the company already uses the USB-C on its iPad and Mac lineups, so it wouldn’t be a complete derailment from its existing technology.
However, as Gizmodo reported, it’s still possible for Apple to skip ports entirely and go straight to wireless MagSafe charging capabilities, though that’s less likely as it appears the entire ecosystem isn’t adequately set up just yet.
Would you prefer a USB-C port on the iPhone? If anything, it’ll make sharing chargers at home a whole lot easier.
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— éæé¤ (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 11, 2022
It's expected to see existing USB-C-related suppliers of Apple's ecosystem (e.g., IC controller, connector) become the market's focus in the next 1-2 years, thanks to vast orders from iPhones and accessories' adoption of USB-C ports.
[via MacRumors and Gizmodo, cover image via Mikhail Primakov | Dreamstime.com]