Apple is reportedly testing an iPhone with a USB-C port, but the first equipped devices won’t arrive until next year.
Apple may soon change the charging port of its iPhones. According to a Bloomberg report, the company is currently testing iPhones and USB-C port adapters, a connection already used by MacBooks and other iPads, not to mention the vast majority of devices outside of the Apple ecosystem. Engadget has contacted the Cupertino company about this, but so far with no response from the interested party.
Apple will test iPhone with USB-C port
According to Bloomberg sources, the test adapter will allow “future iPhones to work with accessories designed for the current Lightning connector.”Therefore, we will talk about, for example, a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter for credit card readers or external drives that will connect to existing iPhones. The Bloomberg report also said that if Apple “decides to continue on this path, this change will not occur until 2023.”
While the Cupertino company’s decision to change the technology for this port has been the subject of much ridicule, switching to USB-C would actually be very welcome. The largest connector standard to date is only slightly larger than Lightning, but can provide more power and faster data transfer. It would also, of course, make life easier for those who already use USB-C to charge other devices and have to carry an iPhone-only Lightning cable with them.
But the first equipped devices will arrive no earlier than next year.
Apple’s motives, on the other hand, may not be entirely altruistic. Indeed, the European Union has been pushing for a universal smartphone charging standard for several years now. Recently, a bill even made USB-C mandatory for these devices. The fact that Apple is testing iPhones with USB-C means the tech giant will comply with this legislation, even if it hasn’t yet gone into effect. And if that were the case, having only UBS-C or almost would also reduce e-waste.