Rumors that Apple wants to give the iPhone a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port have been around for several years. But that won't happen.
Apple will keep the Lightning port on the iPhone for the time being. Switching to USB-C is not an option, according to well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Although much of the industry is moving towards USB-C, Apple will keep the Lightning port on the 2021 iPhone. The port could remain in subsequent years as well. According to Kuo, Apple is hesitant because USB-C is a free, open standard and less waterproof than Lightning.
We believe USB-C is detrimental to the profitability of the MFi business and its waterproof specification is lower than Lightning and MagSafe.
Currently, Apple is able to strictly regulate the quality of Lightning cables and accessories through its Made for iPhone (MFi) program. MFi also generates a significant amount of revenue for the Pursuebecause third-party manufacturers have to pay a high commission to Apple to produce Lightning cables or accessories.
The flagship products set the direction
Apple has used the Lightning connector on every iPhone since its launch in 2012 (iPhone 5), but the company has already switched devices like the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Pro and Air to USB-C. With the need to connect to external drives less pressing and some USB-C features, like connecting an external display, simply impossible on an iPhone, Apple is understandably less motivated to switch to USB-C on its most profitable product for MFi. Switching the iPhone to USB-C this year would also mean that a significant number of devices like the entry-level iPad, iPad mini, AirPods, and a variety of accessories like the Magic Trackpad and MagSafe Duo charger would be stuck in a port that would no longer be widely used on flagship products.
iPhone without port: The switch is made directly
Switching to USB-C is simply not cost-effective for the iPhone. Kuo also addressed the topic of portless iPhones. Rumors have it that Apple plans to eliminate the Lightning port in the long term and rely entirely on wireless charging. According to Kuo, this switch will happen directly, without first switching to USB-C.
If the iPhone abandons Lightning in the future, it could directly adopt the portless design with MagSafe support instead of using a USB-C port.
Overall, it seems pretty certain that the next generation of iPhones will continue to use Lightning. It remains to be seen when the switch to a portless design might happen. (Photo by blackzheep / Bigstockphoto)
