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Other A portless iPhone doesn’t make sense

deuxani

deuxani

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 2, 2010
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We have all these rumours floating around that maybe even as soon as next year we could see a portless iPhone. I could see it happen in the future, but next year or even the year after doesn’t make much sense to me.

Some reasons why I can’t see it happen so soon:
  • They would have to include a MagSafe wireless charger with the iPhone which would make the total package a lot more expensive (or could they be so crazy to not include anything at all)
  • Only supporting “wireless” charging means all new iPhones would waste a lot of energy which is very environment unfriendly (Apple using the environment as an excuse to excluded power adapters and all)
  • The current MagSafe ecosystem is charging only, but they would need data transfer also for troubleshooting, restoring and other things (I would assume they would try out MagSafe with data abilities first on a non-portless device to see what kind of end user issues that would bring)
  • It doesn’t bring any benefits to the end user, only disadvantages
I don’t feel the world is ready yet for such a big shift that is so user hostile. USB-C on the Mac’s was bold but the entire market was going that way and it’s still a port, no headphone jack was controversial but you could still use lightning and Bluetooth, no port at all on the iPhone, their most important product..... that would be a huge risk to take in 2021.
 
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deuxani said:
We have all these rumours floating around that maybe even as soon as next year we could see a portless iPhone. I could see it happen in the future, but next year or even the year after doesn’t make much sense to me.

Some reasons why I can’t see it happen so soon:
  • They would have to include a MagSafe wireless charger with the iPhone which would make the total package a lot more expensive (or could they be so crazy to not include anything at all)
  • Only supporting “wireless” charging means all new iPhones would waste a lot of energy which is very environment unfriendly (Apple using the environment as an excuse to excluded power adapters and all)
  • The current MagSafe ecosystem is charging only, but they would need data transfer also for troubleshooting, restoring and other things (I would assume they would try out MagSafe with data abilities first on a non-portless device to see what kind of end user issues that would bring)
  • It doesn’t bring any benefits to the end user, only disadvantages
I don’t feel the world is ready yet for such a big shift that is so user hostile. USB-C on the Mac’s was bold but the entire market was going that way and it’s still a port, no headphone jack was controversial but you could still use lightning and Bluetooth, no port at all on the iPhone, their most important product..... that would be a huge risk to take in 2021.
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Your points made sense, but that is under the assumption that Apple actually cared about those things. Reality imo said otherwise. Having iPhone users to also buy a magsafe charger will be a huge revenue generator for Apple. You can argue about the environment, but Apple's marketing would've already moved on. The environment issue was solved by excluding chargers and earpods in the box. That's it. Yes, sounds iffy, but that's the reality, and even then so many people are still defending Apple's decision.

I'm sure Apple will do a MagSafe 2.0 that will include data transfer. There were rumors about iPhones with POGO pins at the back. I'm sure it's in the works. Besides, more accessories to sell. ;)

The benefit for end user, if any, will probably be better IP rating, and less room for dust etc to get inside the phone. The larger benefits will be mostly for Apple themselves, as now they can bypass the EU regulations that was mandating USB-C. Not having to deal with EU regulators will be a huge cost saving for Apple.

Now all Apple need is figure out a self-recovery-mode for iOS, just like Android. Right now, no matter what Apple said, iOS devices still need to be tethered to a Mac for troubleshooting, even iPads. It's a bit funny considering Apple trying to make the iPad as a computer replacement. iOS devices will need to be self sufficient, with its own recovery mode.
 
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Last edited:
This rumor is silly anyway. The real rumor is that Apple was working on one premium model portless phone and that little rumor suddenly became all iPhones are going portless next year. It's like that game we played as children where we whispered a secret down the line and by the time it reached the end, it was vastly different from the original.

iPhones will have ports next year and the year after that and probably the year after that. They may release a premium model without ports soon, but it certainly is not going to be the only option as many people seem to think.
 
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They have to include some sort of smart connector with fast data transfer. No way their going to use ancient/slow Wi-Fi data transfer for data backup. Being Apple, maybe they force iCloud upgrades 🤔.
 
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It is a question of when not if.

- Why would they have to include MagSafe? They will use the excuse that everyone already has it or other wireless chargers.
- We all know the environment argument was laughable. And even so - they will still be able to sell it as environmentally friendly since it will no longer have to include a charging cable either.
- They already have various wireless antennas/methods, so not an issue.
- It does provided advantages to the user - or at least Apple will claim so. More environmentally friendly (see second bullet), more reliable less external things to break, better water proofing etc.
- Apple is fine with depreciating features even some of their own. CarPlay that relies on wired won't hold them back.

Anyway, still think we are a couple years away and even more for all their iPhones to go that route.
 
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menist said:
They have to include some sort of smart connector with fast data transfer. No way their going to use ancient/slow Wi-Fi data transfer for data backup. Being Apple, maybe they force iCloud upgrades 🤔.
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing. I for one, do not want to be iCloud dependent. I like having control over my content an the ease of access that backing up to my computer provides.
 
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menist said:
They have to include some sort of smart connector with fast data transfer. No way their going to use ancient/slow Wi-Fi data transfer for data backup. Being Apple, maybe they force iCloud upgrades .
Click to expand...

Since the majority are likely using iCloud and that uses wifi exclusively and since the backup process is incremental for ages already, I don’t see the issue.
 
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I’m torn on this. Part of me would love it and probably buy it. I just have to weigh giving up wired charging is worth it or not. I love being able to charge my iPhone using the 20w brick.
 
I can see portless iPhone either next year or the year after.
This is Apple, they have no issue removing features or in there eyes old tech.

30 pin to lightning.
Headphone jack
No charging brick.

Think it’s going to inevitable.!
 
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menist said:
They have to include some sort of smart connector with fast data transfer. No way their going to use ancient/slow Wi-Fi data transfer for data backup. Being Apple, maybe they force iCloud upgrades 🤔.
Click to expand...
U mean faster as now with USB 2 speed? :)
 
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Another potential advantage might be better battery life assuming that the internal space freed up by removing the connector can be used as extra volume for a bigger battery. That’s going to be important if they do remove the lightning port because accidentally running out of battery when not at home/car/office could become more of a challenge. Right now if you carry a cable all you need to do is find a USB port rather than needing to find someone with a wireless charger.

This whole discuss also begs the question of when the SIM card slot will disappear. That obviously depends on network providers all around the world offering eSIMs on all of their plans so it’s almost certainly further away than dropping the lightning connector but I think it’s on the agenda eventually and when it is possible that will in my view be 100% good because the SIM holder takes up a decent chunk of PCB space and those little SIMs are just fiddly and annoying.
 
Not happening any time soon. There are so many reasons why that it's exhausting to repeat them over and over.
Apple isn’t going to suddenly end all compatibility with CarPlay in every vehicle sold in the world and simultaneously end all forms of wired development and wired recovery and wired accessories on the planet. Nope.
it’s not even remotely in the same league as the amateurish things it gets compared to like the headphone jack and it isn’t the inevitability that some people pretend it is just because they have a wireless charger and Bluetooth headphones.
 
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Deinocheirus said:
Not happening any time soon. There are so many reasons why that it's exhausting to repeat them over and over.
Apple isn’t going to suddenly end all compatibility with CarPlay in every vehicle sold in the world and simultaneously end all forms of wired development and wired recovery and wired accessories on the planet. Nope.
it’s not even remotely in the same league as the amateurish things it gets compared to like the headphone jack and it isn’t the inevitability that some people pretend it is just because they have a wireless charger and Bluetooth headphones.
Click to expand...
Having an opinion is not amateurish, you might not agree but to call it amateurish is uncalled for.
I was just highlighting some changes or features removed by Apple over the years.

I personally hope it doesn't happen.
 
nicho said:
Actually... https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/wireless-carplay-how-to-use-apple-carplay-wirelessly-with-your-car
Click to expand...
Gee ... great article. :rolleyes: It says wireless CarPlay is only available in cars with ... wireless CarPlay. His point was that if they do this they could no longer use it with their current USB-required CarPlay.


chabig said:
I don't think this would be a limitation. iPhone already has radios for this.

9to5mac.com

Apple planning over-the-air OS recovery for iOS devices based on iOS 13.4 beta code - 9to5Mac

Apple is currently running tests with the iOS 13.4 beta, and we found out that the company is working on a...
9to5mac.com 9to5mac.com
Click to expand...
Which is worthless if you can't get to this point with your phone because you need to do something like DFU Mode.
 
Come on everybody, you’re not in the Apple spirit of things. A port-less phone just means you’ll have to overpay for wireless chargers and wireless Air Pods. Don’t be upset, Apple is counting on you to toe the line and get with the program. After all, USB chargers add to environmental waste, but MagSafe chargers are, well, expensive, so Apple approves! Giving the user options is just not the correct thinking here.
 
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