14 DAY TRIAL // Here we go again. Apple is one more time said to be planning the transition from Lightning to USB-C on the iPhone, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo explaining that the whole thing could happen on the iPhone 15 projected to launch in 2023.
If you’re not new to the Apple world, you probably know already that similar rumors have been doing the rounds every year for the last few iPhone generations.
In every single case, Apple was said to be planning to give up on the Lightning port and embrace USB-C, either only on some models or on all iPhones launching that year.
Now Kuo doesn’t say anything about a gradual introduction of USB-C in the iPhone world, but as it turns out, the plan is to make it happen on the models launching in 2023.
iPhone 15 to launch with USB-C
“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,” Kuo says.
“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.”
While it’s too early to tell if the rumor is accurate or not, what’s very clear is that the iPhone generation launching this year will continue to use Lightning.
And at the same time, there’s also a chance that Apple isn’t necessarily rushing to launch a portless iPhone, as some sources have previously suggested. If the switch to USB-C is indeed happening, then the debut of an iPhone without any ports could take much longer than originally anticipated – or the idea could even be dropped completely.