The iPhone 15 could replace the Lightning port with USB-C

I’m in tears, and I can’t help it. Why emotion? Because after years of stubbornly using the Lightning connector on the iPhone, there’s a new leak saying so will apple Switch to USB-C next year.

I would normally be very skeptical about such a claim, But this one comes from one of Apple’s most trusted analysts, Ming-Chi Kuo (via Mac rumors), who has a proven track record when it comes to predicting upcoming releases and features. He wrote in a tweet, citing an unspecified survey, that the arrival of the iPhone in the second half of 2023 – presumably the iPhone 15 – will abandon the Lightning connector for USB-C, a change that could boost transfer and charging speeds. However, he noted that “the final specification details are still dependent on iOS support.”

Before we give Apple too much credit, the company is currently being backed into a corner by the European Union’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, which Last month it voted to support the legislation It would force companies to adopt USB-C on all small and medium-sized devices. The rule aims to simplify things for customers and reduce e-waste.

Kuo previously said that Apple has no intention of replacing Lightning connectors with USB-C, even though the company is using the predatory standard on iPad tablets and Macs. “We believe USB-C is detrimental to the profitability of MFi’s business, and its waterproof specifications are lower than that of Lightning and MagSafe,” Kuo wrote.

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Apple was supposed to skip USB-C and move from a Lightning connector to a completely portless phone that relies on wireless charging. This way, she can expand her MagSafe accessories, increasing revenue, while also making her phone more waterproof. However, Kuo noted that the MagSafe ecosystem is not ready for prime time and that Apple will continue to use Lightning “for the foreseeable future.”

Apple may continue to phase out ports entirely; If that happens, there could be a difficult transition phase as iPhone owners will need to replace their Lightning chargers for USB-C, the port on nearly every modern gadget besides the iPhone.

Not everyone will support this change, and those who have hidden Lightning cables over the years will be angry. If it’s any consolation, it’s likely that iPhone owners who have invested in Apple’s ecosystem already own a USB-C cable.