iPhone 14 will be last to use the Lightning cable, Apple rumour says
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The next iPhone could be the last to use the Lightning cable.
The company is considering switching to USB-C after the iPhone 14, according to a new report from often reliable analyst Ming-chi Kuo.
Apple has used Lightning for almost 10 years, when it was introduced to replace the much larger 30-pin cable that originated with the iPod.
In recent years, many have forecast the death of the port. But until now, most have guessed that Lightning would be killed off with an iPhone that had no ports at all.
Now the latest report suggests that Apple will instead switch for USB-C in the iPhone 15, or whatever it calls the phone due for release in 2023.
Apple already uses USB-C in most of its other devices, including the iPad. It offers faster charging and better data speeds than Lightning, though it is also larger.
“My latest survey indicates that 2H23 new iPhone will abandon Lightning port and switch to USB-C port. USB-C could improve iPhone’s transfer and charging speed in hardware designs, but the final spec details still depend on iOS support,” Ming-chi Kuo wrote on Twitter.
“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.”
Apple’s adoption of USB-C could help relations with the EU, which is looking to introduce new regulations that would require all smartphones to use the same connectors.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments