Barclays: iPhone 12 Models Will Have 'Refreshed' Face ID System, Lightning Connector Could Be Dropped in 2021

[ayale99]

My iPhone X is still running strong, great battery life and fast enough for a daily.

Im not planning on upgrading until the next iPhone is USB-C like my iPad and the bitch is removed.

Here,here. I'm sticking with the X until USB-C debuts as well. No reason to upgrade until then.

 

[Falhófnir]

Don't particularly like the idea myself, but I would guess there's going to be various 'SE' type models for years to come that will still have a physical connector so no immediate impetus to look at alternatives.

 

[Gasu E.]

Plus, if Apple doesn't end up developing their own wireless charger, you'll be required to go out and buy a third party charger to be able to even use the device.

I can't imagine Apple would force you to purchase a second gizmo in order to use the phone. However, the wireless charger they would bundle wouldn't need to have to have the versatility of today's commercially available chargers-- it would have to be good enough to meet the charging needs of the specific device. So, I suspect you are right; Apple would develop their own wireless charger. They probably already have something in prototype right now, given how much they've already invested in wireless charging.

 

[Bornee35]

The only way they could pull that off is to come out with some kind of wireless carplay device that can plug into USB... They can break carplay in every car out there...

And would need some way to hard reset it in the event of a major issue.

 

[Maetzle]

MacRumors readers all want USB C, but I think the majority of iPhone users would freak if they yanked Lighting.

Or the "majority of iPhone users" would see that this makes it easier for them, because all their other new devices use USB C and they can even share their cables with their Android friends too.

 

[Gasu E.]

That leaves a whole market open for wireless dongles...😂

Yep. That would be very Apple-like.

 

[ksec]

The idea of having an iPhone that can't be used while charging (well, if you are really handy perhaps you can) is so absurd that it boggles the mind.
That is without even getting into specific uses like charging on the go (someone could come up with an equally ridiculous large induction battery box) or using CarPlay on every car that isn't a BMW (and some other models).
And the idea of having huge electrical losses just to please a departed Apple exec is also so ridiculous and environmentally criminal that it should be outlawed.

I think it will be replaced with Smart Connector. It isn't really a port. But still allow you to do what lightning would do. This will allow the whole iPhone to be completely sealed, assuming they even get rid of the Sim Slot.

 

[JosephAW]

Maybe a compromise is put a notch at the bottom of the iPhone so no matter which way you turn it, it always looks the same.
Also install a magnetic smart connector instead of the lightning port with various dongles for connectivity.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Actually I prefer the Lightening connector - it is easier to attach than USB-C. In any case, as a person who charges their phone from buses, trains, and portable battery packs while hiking/backpacking, I agree that removing a wired connector would really be annoying in the extreme. With a cable you can work with your phone with little hindrance, not so if you have to lay your phone down on a wireless charging mat.

I think people take for granted how often most people charge their phones when not at home or in their office and how many charge their devices while using them.

 

[Freeangel1]

YES!! I dislike the lightning connector
multiple times the copper pathways have worn out on me. got scratched or nicked to the point they don't work anymore

I Totally welcome USB C. no more dongle to plug it into my laptop
lighting was a lousy design
The iPod classics had cable connections built like a tank
I still have a sharp ghetto blaster with a 5 cd disk changer that mounts my 160GB iPod classic on top for a HUGE music collection. that connector is Rock Solid. Lightning connector JUNK

 

[PickUrPoison]

This "rumor" is ********. You can't have a phone without a wire. You couldn't use it while it charges, which Apple isn't dumb enough to do. Move along.

You might be surprised how many people never need to charge their phone except while they sleep. Not everybody puts 10+ hours a day on their phone.

Is it 30%? 50%? 70%? I don’t know... but Apple does 🙂

 

[MandiMac]

About Face ID: 👏 Multi 👏 user 👏 support 👏

 

[PickUrPoison]

Please remove lightning and add USB-C. Would be so much easier to share cables and dongles with iPad and MacBook.

Only if you’re one of the very few who have a 2018 iPad Pro and a relatively new MacBook Pro.

 

[locoboi187]

That would seriously **** up people who have expensive cars with wired-only CarPlay.

Dont think Apple would care about that lmao. It's on the expensive car manufacturer to provide Wireless CarPlay. But either way I don't see this truly wireless charging thing happening yet.

 

[mrr]

It would be so cool if the next iPhone supports the Apple Pencil.

 

[bobtem]

And what do I do with this...?

 

[Prof.]

Let's remove the lightning port altogether

My main concern is: how would I use my iPhone in my car? Sure I can use bluetooth but I won't be able to use CarPlay...? I don't think my car has wireless CarPlay.

 

[mdorais]

If they drop all ports I'm done upgrading for a few years due to my needs. Maybe down the road I'll do a SE model but for the most part Apple will lose my business. I've thought about giving Android a try as well.

 

[centauratlas]

I think they'll go port-less before adding USB-C to the iPhones.

MacRumors readers all want USB C, but I think the majority of iPhone users would freak if they yanked Lighting.

I think most people want one or the other, not none. I'm sure many people here do prefer USB-C, but as far as I am concerned, either is okay, but it makes more sense to standardize on something. With the newer iPads having USB-C, that probably makes the most sense long term.

A completely portless phone would be stupid for, among other reasons (CarPlay etc as people have discussed above), many people don't want to keep a transmitter that close to their brains if they can avoid it.

 

[The Game 161]

Still no real leaks as this article tells us very little...no port? Wireless charging speeds would need to be good for this to work

 

[bigjnyc]

Also, dropping Lightning for USB-C is a bad idea cuz I don't use USB-C cords nor see a point of em.

Oh well if you don't use USB-C cords then yeah this is a horrible idea... forget the hundreds of millions other iphone users... the fact that you don't use them should motivate Apple to scrap those plans immediately. 😭

 

[thebeans]

I thought in the U.S. All phones were required to come with hands-free headphones for driving. Isn't it some sort of rule?

No

 

[Plutonius]

I thought in the U.S. All phones were required to come with hands-free headphones for driving. Isn't it some sort of rule?

Here is the list of states prohibiting headphones while driving.

California modified its law to also prohibit ear buds while driving unless you only use one.

 

[thebeans]

This "rumor" is ********. You can't have a phone without a wire. You couldn't use it while it charges, which Apple isn't dumb enough to do. Move along.

Exactly!! There is No Way they will make a phone with no port. They may move to USB C. With no port, how do they load the os to begin with? How do you use it while charging? How do you connect it to a computer to reinstall the os if it goes belly up? And wireless charging is slower. Not going to happen, ever.

 

[ggibson913]

That would seriously **** up people who have expensive cars with wired-only CarPlay.

Not really, I would then have to switch over to Android.