An iPhone with a USB-C port is a distant dream now according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his report that was seen by Apple Insider, he said that there’s no plans anywhere in the near future to integrate the modern standard port into the iPhone.
Apple first integrated the USB-C port in their Macbook Pro laptops in 2016, removing all other ports including their proprietary MagSafe connector. They followed that with the Macbook Air in 2018, together with the iPad Pro. Since then, people have been waiting when they will put USB-C into the iPhone.
Kuo cites two reasons for Apple’s hindrance to the current standard. First is USB-C has a lower waterproof rating than lightning and second, the most obvious, is it would be detrimental to the Made For iPhone program.
Since the USB-C standard is open source, third-party manufacturers won’t have to pay Apple anymore to make accessories for their devices, which is the norm today. All brands like Anker, Belkin, JBL, Bose, and many more have to pay a license fee to Apple in order to get the rights to make accessories and earn the coveted ‘Made for iPhone | iPad’ badge in their box. Taking away all these fees would be a significant loss to Apple’s profits every year.
“At present, the MagSafe ecosystem is not mature enough, so the iPhone will continue to use the Lightning port in the foreseeable future,” Kuo said.
Once that MagSafe ecosystem for the iPhone gets enough traction, Apple would probably go straight to a portless design. As for large data transfer for creators and the like, well, if you are using a Macbook, there’s AirDrop. If not, use an online transfer method of your choice like Google Drive.
Of course, Apple can just spin this move and say that letting go of their Lightning port would make users throw them out, adding to e-waste in the world. They did it with the chargers, they can easily use the same excuse for a port.
