I am probably going to get some blowback due to my opinion on this subject, bet here goes anyway. I am glad Apple has not changed the iPhone port to USB-C, and I hope they hold off for as long a possible. (1) I already have many lightening port chargers including iPad chargers along with many lightening to USB-A cables, due to various devices purchased by my family since 2012. I hate to see those start to become obsolete. They just work. I love the lightening connectors. (2) I already have a 2017-vintage HP 2-in-1 Windows Notebook computer that includes 2 USB-C ports, so I already have experience with this port. My own experience is that USB-C charger cable is a bit flakey and I have to hold it "just so" in order to keep my charger connected. I have a USB-C thumb drive, and it just doesn't connect as fast as comprable USB-A drives. Finally, the USB-C connector does not seem to be as robust as a lightening port. I think it is partly due to the use of a small "female" connector on USB-C. The male lightening connector just works more reliably. (3) IMHO, I suspect that the majority of "ordinary" users who don't read tech blogs would not happy with a sudden change to USB-C for reason (1). If or when USB-C becomes "standard" on iPhones, I will adapt, but I am just not looking forward to it.
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Other Likelihood of USB-C
- Thread starter Elshad
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I absolutely love my iPad Pro but it having USB-C has been a PITA. My house is covered with lightning cables and the same for the other houses I go to. It's annoying having to travel with lightning and USB-C cables/adapters with me.
I have zero transition needs for USB-C on my iPhone. I would rather have the lightning capabilities. Plus, I have so many lightning enabled accessories with my AirPods, iPod touch and third-party accessories, it would be a complete debacle to transition over to USB-C. Even if Apple were to migrate to USB-C tomorrow, lightning will be relevant easily for the next five years for anyone to make that transition entirely.
The yellow screen with True Tone off, the screen ripples from barely touching it, no headphone jack, and the USB-C port requiring new cables. Add in the dongles, and I was over it. Returned it and bought a used first gen. I just needed a bigger screen for watching shows.
It would be a hassle for many who would need to invest in all new chargers and associated accessories.
Apple's philosophy and list of priorities with regards to connectors is longstanding -- 1) they must meet technical goals the the company feels that more common standard connectors do not, 2) they must provide some unique benefit to users. Universal compatibility and convenience are not as near the top of that list. It has never been a company afraid to go its own way, as any veteran Apple user knows.
The transition from the 30-pin dock connector to Lightning was motivated by a desire for a more compact, physically robust connector with electronic flexibility (active, not passive). It involved some pain for users, but the result was an smaller, easier to use (reversible) connector that meets all the needs for a compact device like the iPhone. Total control over the scheme also brought ancillary benefits, like the MFi licensing program, which Apple was happy to continue.
The rest of the industry gravitated around Micro-USB, but it was never going to be good enough, especially with abominations like the Micro-USB 3.0 connector that Samsung actually employed in its phones.
Inspired by Lightning, and with Apple as a contributor (a big one, according to rumor), the USB-IF went to the drawing board to create a universal, next-generation connector that would serve multiple roles and theoretically liberate users and free them from every worrying about any incompatibilities again, at least in the physical sense. The last connector anyone would ever need. It's a big improvement that solves a lot of issues, but creates some as well, in allowing it to do too much, without enough safeguards to help users and protect them against poor implementations.
But, in Apple's mind, given the needs of the iPhone and its users, unless Type-C imparts some undeniable benefit over Lighting, don't expect Apple to initiate a change entirely of its own volition, or at least before it feels that any new capabilities of future iPhones compels it to switch. More convenient charging (considering that's the only role a cable plays for most smartphone users) is not it.
Apple is obviously familiar with, and comfortable with Type-C for their computers, and pseudo-computer substitutes like the iPads Pro, but not for the iPhones yet, or perhaps ever.
The transition from the 30-pin dock connector to Lightning was motivated by a desire for a more compact, physically robust connector with electronic flexibility (active, not passive). It involved some pain for users, but the result was an smaller, easier to use (reversible) connector that meets all the needs for a compact device like the iPhone. Total control over the scheme also brought ancillary benefits, like the MFi licensing program, which Apple was happy to continue.
The rest of the industry gravitated around Micro-USB, but it was never going to be good enough, especially with abominations like the Micro-USB 3.0 connector that Samsung actually employed in its phones.
Inspired by Lightning, and with Apple as a contributor (a big one, according to rumor), the USB-IF went to the drawing board to create a universal, next-generation connector that would serve multiple roles and theoretically liberate users and free them from every worrying about any incompatibilities again, at least in the physical sense. The last connector anyone would ever need. It's a big improvement that solves a lot of issues, but creates some as well, in allowing it to do too much, without enough safeguards to help users and protect them against poor implementations.
But, in Apple's mind, given the needs of the iPhone and its users, unless Type-C imparts some undeniable benefit over Lighting, don't expect Apple to initiate a change entirely of its own volition, or at least before it feels that any new capabilities of future iPhones compels it to switch. More convenient charging (considering that's the only role a cable plays for most smartphone users) is not it.
Apple is obviously familiar with, and comfortable with Type-C for their computers, and pseudo-computer substitutes like the iPads Pro, but not for the iPhones yet, or perhaps ever.
My iPhone and my AirPods Pro are the only thing left that use Lightning. My MacBook Pro and my iPad Pro both use USB-C, and, clearly, Lightning is going to be phased out, so I'd be perfectly happy with a USB-C iPhone 12. If it doesn't happen until 2021 or 2022, that's fine too, but having to buy a new cable for the car is a small price to pay for having all of my devices able to charge on the same cable (my airpod case charges wirelessly).
My decision to buy a 12 Pro this year will be completely based on USB-C or not. My iPhone is the last thing I own with lightning and it’s a PITA. For something that’s called “Pro”, why not give it a “Pro” interface just like on the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.
I don't mind lightning either, but we all know what the "U" stands for in USB? Having a standard is very helpful. I think Apple would/could have used USB at some point, but why? They make a **** ton of money off of lightning. Imagine what that number equates to today? All the lightning royalties ect. It's all about those Benjamin's guys!
I'm with you. I don't want USB-C. We've never had a universal connector, and I've never felt the desire to have one.
From Jon Prosser,
Seems like Apple is going to sooner drop their lightning port altogether than switch to usb c. The irony here is that the more organisations like the EU try to force Apple to switch, the more they are likely to accelerate the transition.
Oh, this will be so much fun to watch...
Seems like Apple is going to sooner drop their lightning port altogether than switch to usb c. The irony here is that the more organisations like the EU try to force Apple to switch, the more they are likely to accelerate the transition.
Oh, this will be so much fun to watch...
That wouldn't be a surprise.
I'd still prefer to have a physical port, and make use of it for more than charging, but most users only treat it as a charging port.
A workable version of AirPower remains a goal, and if not, there is no shortage of wireless charging options on the market.
Apple has been really conservative with charging rates, but if it chooses to do fast wireless charging, it can define its own Qi PPDE like Samsung has done, break the 15W EPP barrier, and possibly make it part of the MFi program to keep that revenue stream going.
Many people have power banks on them to charge their phones if the battery life dips over the course of the day. Removing the charging port would be an issue for them, as wireless banks are slow and inefficient, and you can’t use the phone while it is charging. I suppose Apple could switch to some sort of smart connector and charge via some specialised charging adaptor or cradle?
Either way, I am not sure wireless charging alone will suffice for the majority of users, but I am more interested to see what Apple has planned to address this issue.
They created the AirPods to address the removal of the headphone jack, and AirPower was meant to provide an integrated charging solution to users with an iphone, Apple Watch and AirPods.
So I am interested not so much in the removal of the charging port, but more of what succeeds it. I can’t say I have missed the headphone jack on my iPhone 8+, and who knows - I might not miss the absence of a charging port in the future either.
If/when it does occur, I expect Apple to have a solution like they've already employed with some of their other devices in the vein of "X minutes charge will get you Y minutes of usage." Good, enough, see?
Of course, that won't make everyone happy, but it's not like that has ever stopped them before.
Apple has stubbornly maintained the same roughly "one day on a charge" usage target, and juggled the other variables like battery size and feature richness around it. I don't expect that to change. And for those who need more they will happily sell you the humpback battery case, which they could make in a wireless version.
As do I. Don't get me wrong, the port is primarily used for charging, but I also use my phone to take loads of photos (ie hundreds) and the occasional video as part of my job. It's quick and painless to transfer all of my photos I've taken from the phone to my work PC. A port is still my preferred method of data transfer, but appreciate that not all prefer it.
I'd be open to using a wireless solution, though that solution (for me) should be a direct file transfer from phone to PC (not via an intermediary like iCloud). Ditto for any other media transfer from phone to PC (or vice versa).
The lightning port on my iPhone X is now shot and doesn’t work at all. What’s worse is that the iOS update page freezes every time I go into it. So now my phone is stuck on the current iOS. If Apple ships a phone with no port it will be a disaster waiting to happen.
We won't see USB-C on a iPhone until more Apple (non iPhone)/Beats devices start to have USB-C...those new Beats released this month makes me suggest lighting port for this year and next years iPhones.