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Do you think next year's iPhone will be USB-C, replacing Lightning? (after today's iPad event?)

  • Yes

    Votes: 96 61.9%
  • No

    Votes: 59 38.1%

  • Total voters
    155

uptempos

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 25, 2015
85
62
With the new ipad now utilizing USB-C, do you guys think next year's iPhone will be USB-C? It just makes sense at this point!
 
I doubt it. On iPad's there's more space for the larger port. I can imagine Apple holding onto Lightning on iPhone's as long as possible.
 
I thought the EU were strongly pushing away from proprietary and towards a consistency with USB to reduce waste? This might be a reason apple move away from lightning connections
 
I thought the EU were strongly pushing away from proprietary and towards a consistency with USB to reduce waste? This might be a reason apple move away from lightning connections
This might sound logical, but in practice, going with USB would have actually caused more waste.

Apple's had two different types of charging ports in the 10 years that iPhones have been in existence. On the USB side, they're have been three types of ports ... mini-USB, micro-USB and now USB-C.

What the EU (and other agencies) should mandate is that the other end of the cable be a single standard. Every iPhone lightning cable has always had a USB-A plug on the other end. This has been the de-facto standard on every modern smartphone. A move to USB-C should just mandate that end of the cable and let the manufacturers do whatever they want on the other end. The problems occur when decision makers who know nothing about tech decide to implement rules to govern tech.

edit - modified the 1st paragraph to better capture my thoughts.
 
No, the usage model with iPad Pro is different than iPhone.

Hardly anyone wants to connect iPhone to an external monitor or daisy chain USB-C devices.

There are clear advantages of having USB-C on iPad Pro but those those advantages don't carry over to iPhone.
 
That was the only surprise for me in today's announcement. Why launch iPads less than a month after new phones with a different connector? I would feel much better about purchasing a new phone this month from apple if it had USB-C.
 
I don't think so because of the thickness of USB-C versus Lightning.

The new iPad is 5.9mm thin and the XS Max is 7.7mm. Thickness isn't the issue. Now the size of the jack inside the device may very well be different; no one knows until the teardowns.

But other than uniformity, what does USB-C bring to the iphone?

The iPad it is to drive external displays, hook to USB devices etc. To charge and sync USB-C really adds nothing to the party for the phone.

It would be far more beneficial (fast charge and compatibility) to move to a lightning to USB-C cable in the box.
 
Except for the fact that the lightning cables rot and fray within about a year, I still prefer them to USB-C. I find the USB-C connectors quickly wear, become loose, and easily dislodge from their sockets. The lightning connectors have a positive snap locking them in place, and it never wears out. I think they are better connectors.
 
The new iPad is 5.9mm thin and the XS Max is 7.7mm. Thickness isn't the issue. Now the size of the jack inside the device may very well be different; no one knows until the teardowns.

But other than uniformity, what does USB-C bring to the iphone?

The iPad it is to drive external displays, hook to USB devices etc. To charge and sync USB-C really adds nothing to the party for the phone.

It would be far more beneficial (fast charge and compatibility) to move to a lightning to USB-C cable in the box.

With headset jacks being ditched by multiple manufacturers. It would surely be beneficial to headphone manufacturers to have a single standard to work with. Of course it would also benefit consumers to not have to worry about adapter cables for their headset.
 
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We've all heard that next year's iPhone will be a complete redesign so I am more than willing to bet that it will use USB-C.
Betting on same design language as ipad pro and xr. So thicker iphone to house bigger battery like xr, also 6.1 display as new iPhone size standard. Flat sides with USB C like ipad pro.
 
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We've all heard that next year's iPhone will be a complete redesign so I am more than willing to bet that it will use USB-C.

I doubt that. I think Apple will be extending iPhone designs to at least three years. The iPhone 6-8 body was four years long. iPad Mini to 2018 iPads are six years old.

The XS Max and XR are brand new for this year. I expect tweaks like a triple camera housing or redesigned antenna lines similar to 6S to 7 but I don't a major redesign coming next year.

What means for USB-C though I have no idea.
 
No, the usage model with iPad Pro is different than iPhone.

Hardly anyone wants to connect iPhone to an external monitor or daisy chain USB-C devices.

There are clear advantages of having USB-C on iPad Pro but those those advantages don't carry over to iPhone.

As powerful as phones are nowadays, I wouldn't mind being able to plug it into a monitor for some uses. Having the option is nice.
 
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I wish a flat bezels design (like the new iPad Pro, like iPhone 4 to SE) in order to allow a USB-C connector in. Then it would be amazing to purchase a new iPhone X like that. Even better with a smaller footprint than the XS.

Oh, and yeah, of course, next year's redesigned iPhone will come with USB type C.
Lightning is a better, more durable port. But USB-C is the standard and moving towards it will be better for all.
 
I doubt that. I think Apple will be extending iPhone designs to at least three years. The iPhone 6-8 body was four years long. iPad Mini to 2018 iPads are six years old.

The XS Max and XR are brand new for this year. I expect tweaks like a triple camera housing or redesigned antenna lines similar to 6S to 7 but I don't a major redesign coming next year.

What means for USB-C though I have no idea.

I agree I highly doubt they are going to redesign the X series after only 2 years. They spend MILLIONS on these phone designs, reworking everything to fit, materials, production lines, etc. so getting a few years of use makes perfect sense.

I have a strong feeling the notch will shrink, a less strong possibility of a 3rd rear camera, but no major body design overhaul to the look. Enough to call it a whole new number designation since this was an S year.

I believe the big "redesign" is to iOS that was supposed to happen in 2018 and got pushed back to next year.

But again, USB-C brings nothing "new" to the table feature-wise other than uniformity to the connector across products. Lightning to USB-C can support fast charge and data just fine. And I dont think Apple is going to give up its cut of $ on each lightning connector device sold; the iPads are far far less sales volume and got a functional upgrade going to USB-C
 
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