After much speculation on the subject, it seems that we already know which will be the last iPhone to have a Lightning connection and, therefore, which will be the first to have a USB-C port. Are we prepared for this historic change?
One of the most in-demand features of the iPhone 14 is Apple ditching its proprietary Lightning port in favor of the industry-standard USB-C. And this lawsuit may not be as far-fetched as we’ve previously heard.
The always active analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often makes accurate predictions about Apple, has said that the iPhone 15 could be the iPhone that abandons Lightning in favor of USB-C, which would mean a historic change in the apple brand.
Until now, Apple has stuck to its own ports, connections, and standards rather than conforming to what everyone else does. Of course, if Tim Cook’s company abandons the Lightning it is not by its own decision, but by a requirement of the European Union.
(1/2)My latest survey indicates that 2H23 new iPhone will abandon Lightning port and switch to USB-C port. USB-C could improve iPhone’s transfer and charging speed in hardware designs, but the final spec details still depend on iOS support.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 11, 2022
This would make the iPhone 14 the last Apple smartphone to use Lightning, unless the iPhone SE 4 does too, which is why it has been maintaining the design for about 6 years. The bad thing is that by the time the EU measure comes out, it should already be in force.
The advantage of USB-C is that it allows faster charging and data transfer; Plus, because it’s the industry standard, it means you can use the same charger for all your devices, saving the planet from e-waste.
Apple already supports USB-C for some devicesincluding most iPads, but not iPhones.
Apple has latched onto Lightning for a number of reasons, though many critics suggest it’s because, as a proprietary connector, Apple makes a lot of money by encouraging people to buy their own cables.
Various regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU, have been pushing Apple to adopt USB-C, in order to avoid e-waste and end the company’s anti-competitive stance on accessories.
This is the logical step for Apple in the future, the opposite would be to face sanctions and fines, and it would not make much sense as it is a change that is, for everyone, for the better.