Will the iPhone 14 still get a USB-C connection?
The MacBook has had USB-c for a while, and so have most iPad models now. But where is the iPhone? According to a new rumor, it could be in 2022. Apple would consider including the USB-C connection in the iPhone 14 Pro.
Read on after the ad.
iPhone 14 with usb-c
LeaksApplePro reports this based on anonymous sources. The Apple leaker doesn’t have a significant track record when it comes to rumours, so it’s questionable whether the sources are reliable. But since it would represent such a big step for the iPhone, it’s nice to zoom in on this rumor.
According to the sources, there are three reasons why Apple wants to exchange the Lightning port for USB-c on the iPhone 14:
1. Fast data transfer
The Pro iPhones are becoming more and more professional. For example, the iPhone 13 Pro (Max) records footage in ProRes, a video codec aimed at movie makers. These files take up a lot of space. One minute of 4K ProRes video takes up about 6 GB of storage.
“Let’s say I’m a professional and I record two hours of raw 4K ProRes video,” writes LeaksApplePro. ‘That’s a 720 GB file. With a Lightning cable, it takes 3 hours and 45 minutes to transfer such a file to a computer.’
If the iPhone has USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 technology – as found on the new iPad Pro and MacBooks – transferring the same file should only take 2 minutes and 38 seconds. To make Pro devices really Pro, the switch to USB-C is desirable.
2. EU Rules
The European Union wants to put an end to all those different chargers that manufacturers supply. In September, the European Commission introduced a bill to make usb-c the standard.
It is a bill that Apple is opposing, because the use of one type of connector would be bad for innovation, according to the company. Apple asked the European Commission to reconsider its plans. Still, it is an extra argument for Apple to make the jump to usb-c, because that may prevent many legal problems.
3. Environment
The third reason Apple is thinking of USB-C has to do with the environment, according to LeaksApplePro. Apple is serious about sustainability and has previously promised to be completely climate neutral by 2030. And if the iPhone switches to USB-C and there is only one type of connector for all smartphones, it would greatly help to reduce the amount of electronic waste (ewaste). Reduce.
However, we do not find this argument very strong. If the environment was more important to Apple than money, the company would have switched to USB-C long ago. And if we are to believe the reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the financial picture is also the reason that Apple may never make the jump to USB-C.
Or just MagSafe?
Apple earns a lot from its Lightning cables. Not only do they see sales through the cables themselves, but manufacturers also have to pay a hefty commission to make Lightning accessories. That is why Apple prefers to make the step to a portless design.
Charging would then only be possible with MagSafe, Apple’s new wireless charging technology. This makes the iPhone more water-resistant and Apple can again advise to use chargers that they have certified themselves and bear the Made For iPhone logo (MFi). However, MagSafe is not yet able to transfer data, so it cannot be ruled out that Apple opts for an interim solution: usb-c.
We will undoubtedly hear more about the innovations of the iPhone 14 in the coming months. Do you want to stay informed? Sign up for our newsletter:
