'iPhone 17 Air' is Step Towards Slimmer iPhones Without USB-C Ports

[MacRumors]

Apple considered launching the iPhone 17 Air without a USB-C charging port, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said that while Apple ultimately decided against making the iPhone 17 Air its first iPhone model without a charging port, the idea is still on the table for future iPhone models.

He said the iPhone 17 Air will "foreshadow a move to slimmer models without charging ports."

"The iPhone 17 Air represents the beginning of a sea change for Apple," he wrote. "Apple executives say that if this new iPhone is successful, the company intends to again attempt to make port-free iPhones and move more of its models to this slimmer approach."

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the first iPhone without a charging port would launch all the way back in 2021, but that did not happen. Apple has shifted from its custom Lightning port to the universal USB-C port on iPhones over the past few years, but the wait for an iPhone without a charging port at all continues.

P.S. Hopefully the iPhone 17 Air will support MagSafe, unlike the iPhone 16e.

Article Link: 'iPhone 17 Air' is Step Towards Slimmer iPhones Without USB-C Ports

 

[Frankfurt]

This is a bad idea... how will you charge such a phone while traveling in cars or on an airplane?

 

[STOCK411]

I feel like the pro models will HAVE to have the usb c port.

Especially given its been marketed as something you could film a “movie” with.

That means you would have to upload those large files wirelessly which may not always be possible depending on where you are filming.
(Say shooting a movie somewhere in Africa where cell service is not always the greatest)

 

[jz0309]

Ok, well, it is inevitable. Not if, but when.
Thanks Gurman…

 

[DHagan4755]

Charlton Heston's sentiment is beckoning from the grave with a whisper of, "I'll give you my USB-C port when you pry it from my cold, dead hands."

 

[MayaUser]

"This is a bad idea, Apple is doomed, Apple is lost....no more cd rom, no more floppy, no more headphone jack"....years fast forward...the industry copy paste and people stoped complaining and they adapt

 

[npmacuser5]

This is a bad idea... how will you charge such a phone while traveling in cars or on an airplane?

Cars have wireless chargers and ports for ones wireless chargers.

 

[MayaUser]

Ok, well, it is inevitable. Not if, but when.
Thanks Gurman…

Thanks to him, now we know when

 

[jrath1]

I guess with magsafe you don't really need a usb-c port?

 

[jz0309]

Thanks to him, now we know when

Yea, in the future … great prediction

 

[HouseLannister]

doubt they are going to make a phone they can’t sell in the EU. Common charger directive applies to all mobile phones.

 

[STOCK411]

Cars have wireless chargers and ports for ones wireless chargers.

Not every car does. And its not really wireless when it needs to be stuck to a charging pad. Truly wireless charging would be something that changes your phone while you use jt

 

[MayaUser]

Not every car does. And its not really wireless when it needs to be stuck to a charging pad. Truly wireless charging would be something that changes your phone while you use jt

you can use your phone while is charing with the cable...that means is really wireless?
Almost every car has this, and it will have. Until the whole industry will adopt this , all new cars will have inductive charging by default

 

[JohnRckr]

Will never buy a phone without connector. Stupid idea only Apple seems to be pushing

 

[madeirabhoy]

doubt they are going to make a phone they can’t sell in the EU. Common charger directive applies to all mobile phones.

it doesnt, I just checked in case, only if they are capable of wired charging.

From the diretive

15. Can radio equipment that can only be recharged via wireless charging be made available on the market without incorporating the harmonised charging solution?

Yes. Since, such radio equipment cannot be recharged via wired charging, it does not need to incorporate the harmonised (wired) charging solution.

Regarding wireless charging, the Commission will promote the harmonisation of wireless charging in order to avoid future fragmentation of the internal market and any negative effects on consumer and the environment. The Commission will monitor the evolution of all types of wireless charging technologies (not only inductive), particularly market developments, market penetration, market fragmentation, technological performance, interoperability, energy efficiency and charging performance.

As stated in recital 13 of the Common Charger Directive, ‘ the Commission should take action towards promoting and harmonising such solutions to avoid future fragmentation of the internal market’ .

 

[Jashar7]

Apple considered launching the iPhone 17 Air without a USB-C charging port, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said that while Apple ultimately decided against making the iPhone 17 Air its first iPhone model without a charging port, the idea is still on the table for future iPhone models.

He said the iPhone 17 Air will "foreshadow a move to slimmer models without charging ports."

"The iPhone 17 Air represents the beginning of a sea change for Apple," he wrote. "Apple executives say that if this new iPhone is successful, the company intends to again attempt to make port-free iPhones and move more of its models to this slimmer approach."

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the first iPhone without a charging port would launch all the way back in 2021, but that did not happen. Apple has shifted from its custom Lightning port to the universal USB-C port on iPhones over the past few years, but the wait for an iPhone without a charging port at all continues.

P.S. Hopefully the iPhone 17 Air will support MagSafe, unlike the iPhone 16e.

Article Link: 'iPhone 17 Air' is Step Towards Slimmer iPhones Without USB-C Ports

Mark my words Apple in 5 years will either take the lead and become the king they were like always or they will fall so badly (like they are already falling) and become less relevant than some weird chinese brand phones.

 

[Mazda 3s]

This is a bad idea... how will you charge such a phone while traveling in cars or on an airplane?

Uhh, you currently use a USB-A or USB-C to USB-C cable. So you'd use a USB-A or USB-C to MagSafe. Seems pretty simple 🤷‍♂️

 

[TechWhisperer]

Isn’t MagSafe charging less efficient than cable charging thus more expensive and subsequently will generate a higher electric bill?

 

[FogCityMac]

I still use 25 year old, wired <gasp> Bose QuietComfort 3 headphones (with a USB-C adapter). 😳

 

[STOCK411]

delete

 

[theorist9]

If you're downloading movies or photos from your iPhone to your computer, is there a significant loss of speed if you need to use WiFi rather than USB 3?

 

[STOCK411]

you can use your phone while is charing with the cable...that means is really wireless?
Almost every car has this, and it will have. Until the whole industry will adopt this , all new cars will have inductive charging by default

My 2018 mazda does not.

People update their phones more often and then they buy a new car. Especially with the possibility of car prices skyrocketing

 

[icanhazapple]

No one wants this.

 

[BrandonHacks]

I do not want this even though I almost exclusively use MagSafe charging and even wireless CarPlay. Too many people will lose CarPlay functionality unless they upgrade their car and in this economy not many people are doing that.

Yeh they have wireless adapters but the general public doesn’t know about them.

 

[ThisIsMike]

lol I think Apple should come up with a new, even thinner proprietary connector just to piss off the EU.

That's a joke, maybe.

But no charging port? Not a fan.

(I mean, I'm not a fan of no charging port, not that in addition to charging ports, there also shouldn't be a cooling fan in high-powered computing devices.)