No Smart Connector on the iPhone, new source says

May 7, 2016 07:51 GMT  ·  By

Apple enthusiasts who have been keeping an eye on iPhone 7 rumors probably heard that Apple at least considered bringing iPad’s Smart Connector on the upcoming model in an effort to expand functionality outside the device and with help from external accessories.

Although at some level having a Smart Connector on the biggest iPhone would make sense, a new report coming from Macotakara claims this is very unlikely to happen at least on the next generation.

The iPhone 7 Pro rumors

First of all, let’s see why the Smart Connector actually did make sense. People with knowledge of the matter revealed that Apple was planning to introduce a new model in the next iPhone generation that would be called the iPhone Pro.

While it wasn’t clear where this Pro model could actually fit the revamped phone lineup, pundits claimed that Apple was aiming for more consistency in its portfolio and after launching Pro models of the MacBook and the iPad, the iPhone is the next in the queue to get it.

Rumor has it that Apple considered two different plans for the arrival of the Pro model: it could either replace the Plus model or be offered alongside it, in which case it would feature a screen of at least 5.7 inches. This way, Apple could expand its phone offering to four different iPhone models, as it follows: SE, the standard model, the Plus, and the Pro.

Why the Smart Connector was considered

Albeit it’s not known if leaks revealing a Smart Connector on the iPhone 7 were real or not, having such a feature on the Pro model would make sense at some level.

The Smart Connector is being used for connecting external accessories, such as keyboards, so Apple might be aiming to extend functionality of the iPhone Pro by giving it an approach more inclined to productivity. Furthermore, this connector can also serve additional purposes, including allowing the use of external batteries that are either stand-alone or included into cases, so it clearly creates more opportunities for Apple’s devices.

In the meantime, what we know for sure is that the iPhone 7 will arrive later this year, most likely in September, with a design that’s expected to be similar to the one of the 6s. More information will probably emerge in the coming weeks as we approach the WWDC conference in June.