There’s a growing consensus that Apple is going to ditch its proprietary Lightning port for a much more common USB-C port in iPhones starting next year. While this is good news for consumers who are tired of utilizing multiple different cords and adapters, it also suggests that you may want to wait to upgrade your Apple devices until this port change comes into effect.
Per Bloomberg and according to unnamed sources (as well as company analyst Ming-Chi Kuo), Apple has already been testing iPhones with the USB-C connector, as well as an adapter that would allow future iPhones to work with accessories designed for the current Lightning port. This change most likely is due to upcoming European regulations, which were approved in April. “Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld video-game consoles and portable speakers, rechargeable via a wired cable, would have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of the manufacturer,” as the legislation notes.
This is probably a win for consumers: Expect more third-party vendors to create accessories for Apple, and for many people, they’ll already have the cords they need. Plus, you will no longer need different connectors for different Apple products; while iPads, Macs and the company’s own wireless chargers have thankfully gravitated toward USB-C ports, that’s not the case for AirPods, the Apple TV remote, the MagSafe battery pack and the MagSafe Duo charger.
For Apple, this means a loss of some of the control they have over their product line. But the ports, while slightly larger, could offer faster charging.
Right now it sounds like none of these changes will take place until 2023. Given that Apple tends to release new iPhones in September of every year, this suggests you might want to wait 16 months to see what port the iPhone 15 brings.
Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.
