Analyst says only the Pro models will get faster transfers

Nov 17, 2022 16:55 GMT  ·  By

Apple has no other than to switch to USB-C following new regulations adopted in Europe, but as it turns out, the company wouldn’t wait until 2024 to give up on Lightning and embrace the new connector.

And according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the transition from Lightning to USB-C will make the iPhone blazing fast.

In fact, the wired high-speed transfer will only be offered on the Pro models, Kuo says, as the standard versions will stick with the USB 2.0 standard that are currently serving as the foundation of Lightning.

“2H23 new high-end iPhones' wired transfer speed will likely improve markedly, benefiting the growth of the high-speed transfer IC design industry. Apple's existing suppliers (e.g., Parade, Asmedia, Genesys Logic, Renesas, etc.) are expected to be leading beneficiaries,” Kuo said in a tweet.

“My latest survey indicates all 2H23 new iPhones will abandon Lightning and change to USB-C, but only two high-end models (15 Pro & 15 Pro Max) will support the wired high-speed transfer, and the two standard ones (15 & 15 15 Plus) still support USB 2.0 same as Lightning.”

Once Apple does it, every will follow suit

Kuo goes on to explain that once Apple will switch to USB 3.2 speeds, the entire industry will do the same thing, including the world of Android devices.

“I predict that 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max will support at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. This spec upgrade means the wired transfer and video output user experience will significantly improve. This spec upgrade and the new trend will drive Apple ecosystem's demand for high-speed transfer chips and competitors' imitation (almost all Android phones currently only support USB 2.0), and it's also conducive to the growth of the high-speed transfer IC design industry,” the analyst notes.