iPhone 14 Pro could ditch the Lightning port for USB-C

Date:
Fri, 19 Nov 2021 10:14:19 +0000

Description:
Reports suggest Apple could switch to USB-C for next year's iPhones, and move to its own 5G modems in 2023.

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One of our ongoing complaints about the iPhone range is that it uses Apples proprietary Lightning cable, rather than USB-C, but theres now a suggestion that Apple could switch to this more widespread format.

According to several sources familiar with the matter speaking to iDropNews , the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max may have a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port.

Apparently this hasnt been decided for sure yet, with Apple simply
considering the switch, but if Apple does change the port then it will apparently be for three main reasons. These are the best iPhones Read our
full iPhone 13 Pro Max review See what we think of the iPhone 13

These include data transfer speeds, which would be vastly improved with
USB-C, and which Apple might now care more about thanks to the large file sizes generated by its ProRes video feature files that people are likely to want to transfer from their iPhone to their computer.

Another reason Apple is said to be considering this is that it could be
better for the environment. Since USB-C cables are used for most other portable devices including just about every other smartphone, it seems like most people have thousands of them already. So Apple could potentially
justify not including one in the box with its phones thereby producing less e-waste and saving money in the process.

The final reason Apple is said to be considering the switch is the EUs push for USB-C to become the smartphone standard , which might force Apples hand eventually.

Theyre all good arguments for a port that Apple really should switch to, but wed still take this with a huge helping of salt, as the sources are
anonymous, iDropNews itself isnt particularly known for leaks, and this would be a big shift for Apple. A modem move

In more likely if less interesting iPhone news, Apple will reportedly use its own 5G modem designs in iPhones from 2023. According to DigiTimes , Qualcomm (which currently supplies all of the 5G modem chips for iPhones) will only supply 20% in 2023, with Apple itself picking up the slack.

Weve known for a while that Apple is interested in designing its own modems
so it can be less reliant on Qualcomm, so this isnt surprising. Its really a case of when and not if, and 2023 seems believable.

This probably wont have much impact on the phones themselves though, especially as some models will still apparently be using Qualcomm ones.
(Image credit: TechRadar) Opinion: its long past time Apple switched to USB-C

While were skeptical of reports that Apple will switch to USB-C for the
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the company really should make the move.

Lightning is inferior compared to USB-C in just about every appreciable way, and the only arguments we can see for keeping it are firstly that many people have already invested in Lightning accessories, though that shouldnt hold
back progress, and secondly that Lightning is probably a big money-maker for Apple but thats hardly consumer-friendly.

Many of the reasons Apple should switch have been laid out above, but in the long run it could even be a financially wise choice for the company, since
the move to a sensible port would give Android users one less reason to stay on the Google side.

And now that many iPads even have USB-C ports it really just seems like its stubbornness on the part of Apple not the make the move on iPhones. So we
want to see it and not just for the Pro models. Either that or Apple needs
to hurry up and launch its long-rumored portless iPhone . Stock up on the
best iPhone apps

Via PhoneArena



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/iphone-14-pro-could-ditch-the-lightning-port-fo r-usb-c/


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