Apple set to launch first iPhone with USB-C in 2023

[Daniel Sims]

Rumor mill: Apple has doggedly stuck to its Lightning port for the iPhone as USB-C increasingly becomes the standard for other portable devices. However, Apple may finally give it up next year. The move could be spurred on by external pressure.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted Wednesday that Apple will release an iPhone in the second half of 2023 — possibly the iPhone 15 — that will use a USB-C port instead of its proprietary Lightning port. Kuo based his prediction on a supply chain survey. Kuo said switching to USB-C could lead to better transfer and charging speeds for hardware designs.

Apple has faced pressure from regulators and users to offer iPhones compatible with USB-C cables, which many consumers already own. Everything from competing smartphones to the Nintendo Switch has already made USB-C the standard. Even MacBooks and iPads now use the more common alternative. The iPhone is Apple's last holdout.

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It's expected to see existing USB-C-related suppliers of Apple's ecosystem (e.g., IC controller, connector) become the market's focus in the next 1-2 years, thanks to vast orders from iPhones and accessories' adoption of USB-C ports.

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 11, 2022

Even though it will be Apple's first official iPhone with USB-C, it's not the first ever. Late last year, a Swiss modder built a custom USB-C port into an iPhone, then published instructions for the procedure.

On the regulatory front, the European Union came one step closer to enacting standardized electronic device chargers last month. If approved, it could force iPhones to switch to USB-C. However, if Kuo's analysis pans out, the new regulations would be a mostly moot point, and iPhone users can celebrate having only one cable to charge all of their devices.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/94560-ming-chi-kuo-apple-launch-first-iphone-usb.html

 

[Dimitriid]

I think they talked to the lawyers and concluded that 2023 is the earliest the EU can move it's lazy behind to actually come to a ruling and try to enforce it.

 

[sorten]

It's really disappointing that it has taken Apple so long. Even though they've been years behind on other tech, such as wireless charging and NFC chips, the proprietary cable results in a lot of extra garbage in the world. I hope the rumor is true.

 

[m4a4]

Good. Instead of holding out, trying to make a little more money on their proprietary, consumer-unfriendly connector, they finally might just relinquish control for this last device.
And considering their iPads and macs have already been using USB-C for a few years, it's been indefensible.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Remember that Apple made the Lightning connector before USB-C was a thing and it was made to serve Apple's signalling and water resistance demands. So USB-C was always going to be some kind of compromise, except that it's available in iPad Pros now so clearly they've licked the signalling problem.

I'll bet that with hundreds of billions in cash on hand, they'll figure a way to make USB-C reasonably watertight, even if it means stuffing $1 bills in there for padding.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Ah the Apple haters arrive. Do some research.
The lightning cable was around a long time before USB-C. That crappy micro-b cable was garbage and Apple refused to make iPhone users make do with that pos.

 

[elementalSG]

Coming soon to a theater near you: "USB-C, Lord of the Cables - One Port to Charge Them All"

 

[m4a4]

Ah the Apple haters arrive. Do some research.
The lightning cable was around a long time before USB-C. That crappy micro-b cable was garbage and Apple refused to make iPhone users make do with that pos.

...Who are you arguing against? No one in the comments even suggested that USB-C came out first. You don't need to manufacture an argument to fight against or randomly state why Apple moved on from that crappy 30 pin connector lol

 

[torchyear]

About freaking time! Carrying 2 different charge/data cables and 2 different headphone jack dongles at all times with my iPad Air 4 and iPhone SE2. If using my bluetooth KZ headphones, then another MicroUSB to charge that as well

 

[ypsylon]

I hope this will really materialize and we can send Lighting into dustbin of history.

For many years now Lighting was the only thing which prevented me from upgrading phone. I never quite understood people who do any kind of work on their iPhones and they upgrade to newer - still only Lighting equipped - models year after year. Lighting is such load of house manure for transferring anything.

 

[NumberSix]

$99.99 USB C Pro cable incoming!

 

[Fulljack]

I mean, why would Apple touts their camera for it's recording and picture capabilities when wired transfer are limited to USB 2.0 speed?

do they expect people to just iPhone to edit the videos/pictures locally or even only rely on wireless for data transfer?

 

[Fulljack]

Ah the Apple haters arrive. Do some research.
The lightning cable was around a long time before USB-C. That crappy micro-b cable was garbage and Apple refused to make iPhone users make do with that pos.

and then Apple engineers procees to help USB-IF build type-C interface but the executives prefer controlled garden so they stick with lightning at USB 2.0 speed and viola, you've a die-hard fans who have no idea what's outside their walled garden and take criticism as personal attack.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Some of my devices still use USB A and others use USB C or Micro USB.

My gaming laptops have proprietary chargers.

One cable to charge every thing?

Nope

 

[QuantumPhysics]

I'm currently using a Choetech 100W GaN charger. I have a USBC to Lightning cable and a USBC wireless charging pad for my iPhone. Frankly, I'm with apple. If they want to switch from lightning to USBC - fine...but that means my old iPad 4th gen Retina needs a lightning cable kept around just for it. It's so slow now, I just use it as a TV remote controller and Youtube viewing.

From what I'm seeing, the newest USB standard charges fast and moves data fast. OK fine. I'm down with that.

 

[gdavid65]

Lightning is junk.. that wafer thin pin array bends so easily and it always felt flimsy. Gone through so many Lightning cables where they just stop working. Yet other devices where I have to use USB-C I don't think I have broken one connector yet.

So glad they are getting rid of that POS. iPhone user here for my phone also..

 

[madboyv1]

and iPhone users can celebrate having only one cable to charge all of their devices.

...After shelling out some serious dosh to replace their iPhone, their older iPad (non Pro), their 1st gen Apple Pencil, their older pair of Airpod/Airpod Max, and then waiting for Apple to update their Magic Keyboard/ Mouse/ Trackpad/ Siri Remote... the latter updates not that big of a deal but yeah... =)

 

[trparky]

$99.99 USB C Pro cable incoming!

You may laugh but at least it'll solve some of the issues that the USB Consortium has created in terms of what kind of USB-C cable do you need. Even TechQuickie (done by the same people behind Linus Tech Tips) went into the absolute confusion of how many standards USB-C has. Ugh.

 

[Watzupken]

It's really disappointing that it has taken Apple so long. Even though they've been years behind on other tech, such as wireless charging and NFC chips, the proprietary cable results in a lot of extra garbage in the world. I hope the rumor is true.

There are many areas where Apple is behind competition. Simple things like switching to USB Type C charging port should not take this long. And so is the under screen finger print reader. The Touch ID would be perfect during COVID because of the mask requirements globally. Yet over the last 2 generations of iPhone, and likely even this year, I don’t think we will see the technology return. Apple always claim that they don’t adopt technology until its mature and proven that it works well. I really don’t think there have any excuse here other than very sluggish execution.

 

[trparky]

Apple always claim that they don’t adopt technology until its mature and proven that it works well.

Truth be told, I've seen Android phones with under-the-screen fingerprint readers and some of them just plain suck so there is that.

 

[Sausagemeat]

Lightning is objectively superior to USBC for a phone. It’s less fragile and less likely to break. Sure USBC can support thunderbolt but personally I’ve never missed a fast cable transfer solution on my iPhones. Also currently I have a lightning cable at my desk at work, my gaming PC, bed, sofa. These would all need to be replaced if my next iPhone has USBC.

The EU could do far more to reduce E waste if they did something about phone manufacturers who don’t provide OS updates. Currently Samsung phones might get two years if you’re lucky. And they have an enormous market share. There are too many people buying a new phone every 2 years or so and I think giving feature and OS updates to these users on a longer term basis might reduce the need to update.

 

[bviktor]

Some of my devices still use USB A and others use USB C or Micro USB.

My gaming laptops have proprietary chargers.

One cable to charge every thing?

Nope

Nope because of your garbage equipment choices.

 

[bviktor]

Lightning is objectively superior to USBC for a phone. It’s less fragile and less likely to break. Sure USBC can support thunderbolt but personally I’ve never missed a fast cable transfer solution on my iPhones. Also currently I have a lightning cable at my desk at work, my gaming PC, bed, sofa. These would all need to be replaced if my next iPhone has USBC.

The EU could do far more to reduce E waste if they did something about phone manufacturers who don’t provide OS updates. Currently Samsung phones might get two years if you’re lucky. And they have an enormous market share. There are too many people buying a new phone every 2 years or so and I think giving feature and OS updates to these users on a longer term basis might reduce the need to update.

Superior except for one thing: licensing. Apple was free to release it to the public. They have not.

Intel's been sitting on Thunderbolt the same way, then eventually grew some brains and finally made it open.

 

[bviktor]

and then Apple engineers procees to help USB-IF build type-C interface but the executives prefer controlled garden so they stick with lightning at USB 2.0 speed and viola, you've a die-hard fans who have no idea what's outside their walled garden and take criticism as personal attack.

To be fair, iPhones have been using USB-PD as the charging protocol for a very long time. On Lightning connectors, yes, but at least the protocol was standard USB-PD.

Unlike Android, where it was all Qualcomm's proprietary QuickCharge trash. Thanks to Qualcomm's monopolistic practices, selling the SoCs cheaper if the vendor used QC. Until Google eventually forced Android vendors to support USB-PD.

So Android used to use a standard USB-C connector with a proprietary protocol, while Apple uses a proprietary connector with the standard USB-PD protocol. What a mess. Let's hope it comes to an end next year.

But I'm not holding my breath, these "analysts" have been predicting this for like 3-4 years now.

 

[ChrisH1]

Mind you, there will be chaos when some enterprising tech developing company says 'USB-C? Pffft, child's toy. Now here's USB-D with 10x the power delivery capability and 10x the speed'.