Last week, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuoclaimed that the company plans to ditch the Lightning port and switch to USB-C on all or some models of the new iPhone 15 series, which will be released in 2023. Now, Kuo is repeating that claim and says that Apple will bring USB-C charging ports to other products, including AirPods.
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USB-C AirPods, iPhone and more
Why is Apple deciding to make the switch from Lightning to USB-C? Kuo explains that the company's original goal of removing all ports (in order to leverage MagSafe for charging and file transfer) likely turned out to be too ambitious. Kuo had originally said that Apple was aiming to release an iPhone without any charging ports in 2021, and while it is still testing such a product, it is unlikely to be released in the near future.
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According to the analyst, a “portless iPhone” would “cause more problems due to the limitations of current wireless technologies and the immature MagSafe ecosystem.” In addition, there is pressure from the EU , which is moving forward with new legislation that will require all phones to be able to use the same charger. If this legislation is approved, Apple will be forced to either release specially designed USB-C models for Europe (and keep the Lightning port for everyone else )or adopt USB-C for all its products worldwide.
All of this seems to have led the company to immediately abandon the Lightning port and switch to USB-C, not only on the iPhone but also on other products, such as the AirPods, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse accessories for Mac , and the MagSafe Battery Pack accessory for iPhone.
"Other products with a Lightning port (e.g. AirPods, Magic Keyboard/Trackpad/Mouse, MagSafe Battery) will also switch to USB-C in the near future," Kuo explained.
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It is worth noting that Apple has already adopted USB-C for MAC and iPad.
Essentially, according to Kuo, Apple is starting to begin the process of ditching the Lightning connector on all of its products and accessories in favor of USB-C. When Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller first introduced the Lightning connector in September 2012, he explained that it would be Apple "for the next decade." It's probably time for a big change.
Source: 9to5mac.com
