iPhone 8 Will Have Curved OLED Screen and USB-C Connector

[Mac 128]

Sorry but they just released lightning headphones and the lightning audio adapter. They won't switch that fast.

You mean the free with iPhone 7 purchase, $9 Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, and the Lightning headphones that are not supported on any other non-Lightning equipped device?

Apple will drop Lightning as fast as they can, but not for USB-C. They'll drop Lightning when wireless charging becomes a practical reality, and adopt something like the SmartConnector for physical wired connections as needed, and yes there will be a new connector to Lightning adapter when that happens to support those limited-use Lightning headphones and even those free/cheap 3.5mm adapters, assuming anyone will still want to use them.

And rumor has it that could happen as early as this year.

 

[iJohnnyCretiu]

Lightning was good for its time but I do feel it has now run its course. Hard to believe we've had it for 5 years already.

It really feels like it needs a push to get the USB-C ball rolling. Roll on USB-C for all iDevices and Macs.

What makes you feel that its run its course? We have just reached a level now that the majority of all devices in the Mac ecosystem (trackpad, keyboard, iPhone, iPad, and even the new BeatsX) use lighting. Now you want to fragment that ecosystem to include another standard? That makes absolutely no sense. The best solution would be to include a UsbC to Lightning cable in the box. That will allow users with newer macbooks to connect right out of the box, and the rest will already have a USB A to lightning cable from previous iPhones or iDevices.

 

[jamezr]

I know but......the iphone is essentially an Chinese phone. Most if not all phones are made over there or Asia. Some companies just choose not to take as much profit or don't have the product demand that Apple does.

 

[obiwan]

USB-C is not gonna happen. Soon, there will be 1 billion devices in the market that use the Lightning connector standard

And how many ten's of billion devices have a 3.5mm audio jack as standard I wonder?

 

[jamezr]

China

I know I was being sarcastic...sorry

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

it's the software stupid. i just tried a new android phone to play around and it remains a mess of a GUI just as i remembered all those years back.

you buy the iphone for the software and user interface, not hardware anymore. Despite its many faults, it's still has the best GUI by far.

Neither Android or iOS is the best GUI. Each has it's own unique features and faults. While iOS allows the user to use the phone without thinking about the OS, where Android shines and iOS lacks is in personalization. Back in 10.1, a "bug" in iOS actually allowed my black iPhone 7 Plus to look gorgeous. Using a short procedure of setting my background using a one pixel file, I could make my entire home screen black, including the bottom bar background, and the area behind home screen folders. It looked, in a word, awesome. Along comes 10.2 and in an instant, big brother took it away. The result is every iPhone basically looks the same. Sure, different wallpaper, but that's about where the differences end.

 

[jerryk]

Sounds like Apple read the specs of the Samsung Galaxy 8 and decided to copy them.

Curved display like the Galaxy edge? Check.
No home button, fingerprint scanner in screen? Check.
USB-C connector? check.
Waterproof? Check.
Fast Wireless charging? Ummm.

 

[Brien]

With an edge-to-edge design, the iPhone 8 is said to be similar in size to the 4.7-inch iPhone, but with a display the size of the 5.5-inch iPhone. According to Kuo, it will feature a 5.8-inch display with 5.15 inches of usable area

I'm not sure I'd want to go down 1/3rd of an inch in screen size. I'll hold out for the 6.5" iPhone with 5.9" of usable screen area... same size, bigger screen (please!).

 

[noobinator]

Just wait til apple removes the connector all together. People will admit themselves to hospitals.

 

[OnTheZone]

I don't see it causing any headaches, other than having to replace cables.

It was a headache for the rest of us when people whined about the new lightening cable coming from the 30 pin. Lol all jokes aside I don't really care if they replace lightening cable with USB c but I doubt they will. It seems like it would of been better to switch last year when companies were making Lightening headphones and then there's no need for them anymore if they switch to USB c.

 

[BeatCrazy]

And how many ten's of billion devices have a 3.5mm audio jack as standard I wonder?

And Apple gave away (or sells for $9) an adapter to work with every one of those billions of devices. You think they'd do the same for Lightning to USB-C?

Apple wants you to move to wireless (they can sell more Bluetooth/W1 headphones). Why do they "want" anyone to move to USB-C? They don't.

 

[temna]

Lightning was good for its time but I do feel it has now run its course. Hard to believe we've had it for 5 years already.

It really feels like it needs a push to get the USB-C ball rolling. Roll on USB-C for all iDevices and Macs.

Won't happen. Hell they only have one Lightning device that is USB 3.

 

[belvdr]

It was a headache for the rest of us when people whined about the new lightening cable coming from the 30 pin. Lol all jokes aside I don't really care if they replace lightening cable with USB c but I doubt they will. It seems like it would of been better to switch last year when companies were making Lightening headphones and then there's no need for them anymore if they switch to USB c.

LOL, yeah that's a forum problem, not a phone problem. The nice thing about USB-C is the cable is symmetrical, in that either end can be connected to the phone or power source (unlike Lightning), and it doesn't matter which side is "up" (like Lightning). I think it would be a welcome change, especially for those who travel.

 

[nope7308]

LOL, now that would take some courage!

 

[StevenPG]

Does no one think instead of iPhone 8 name it will be a first addition iPhone Pro? In line with iPad and Mac? This would also allow a higher price point.

 

[BruiserB]

Is there anything that a Lightning connector can do that USB-C can't? For example, video out, etc?
Are there any new capabilities that USB-C can do that Lightning can't? Besides more universal compatibility with Android phones, etc?

If wireless charging is really coming, the port is going to be used less and less anyway, so it doesn't really matter....it will become more like the diagnostic port on the AppleWatch or AppleTV.....used just for recovery from an extreme condition. I do suspect it will continue to be used for charging for a while until whatever charging station they use becomes more widely deployed in homes, cars, offices, etc, so going to something universal with Android hard to argue against. The only real advantage I perceive with Lightning is that it seems a bit more durable, but I don't know that for a fact.

 

[jerryk]

All this whining about losing the lighting connector sounds like the MacBook Pro owners saying they would never buy another MacBook Pro because of the MagSafe was replaced by USB-C. And then they bought the new MacBook Pro with only 2 or 4 USB-C connectors.

USB-C is clearly technically superior and an open industry standard.

Also, Apple is getting out of the peripheral business as fast as they can so no need to support cable patent business. They will soon no longer make routers, monitors, keyboards, etc. They can improve their margins by sticking to making phones, computers, and most of all through the app store.

 

[belvdr]

Does no one think instead of iPhone 8 name it will be a first addition iPhone Pro? In line with iPad and Mac? This would also allow a higher price point.

I don't believe a name demands a higher price point. I don't see it, but I'm not a marketing guy.

 

[iObama]

Can someone please tell me what advantages USB C has over lightning?

Maybe the fact that 85% of smartphones sold in the world today have it? It's an industry standard. Apple uses it on their own damn computers...

Just a few guesses.

 

[itguy06]

All this whining about losing the lighting connector sounds like the MacBook Pro owners saying the would by another MacBook Pro because of the MagSafe was replaced by USB-C. And then they bought the new MacBook Pro.

Not all - that was one of many of my issues with the new MBP's. So I went out, bought an HP 2-in-1 and have 2x the computer for 1/2 the price. And actually am not hating Windows 10.

 

[belvdr]

Not all - that was one of many of my issues with the new MBP's. So I went out, bought an HP 2-in-1 and have 2x the computer for 1/2 the price. And actually am not hating Windows 10.

It's good to hear a report of someone keeping an open mind when switching to PC. It drove me nuts when people complained about Win8 and stated they would migrate to Mac instead, like there's no learning curve moving from Win7 to OS X.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Bigger is still bigger (i.e. one less reason to make a change). And we're talking about phones, where space is still a premium compared to a laptop. And that center male connector inside a USB-C receptacle is just ripe for mobile-use disaster. More likely for things to get jammed in there and have that center connector bent/broken.

The lightening port on the iPhone is barely smaller than the USB-C ports on other phones. The module itself is probably the same size. So space is not even a factor, but more of just extreme nitpicking.

I never had an issue with Micro USB for decades, and I never had an issue so far with my devices that use USB-C. Can't say the same about lightening cable/port.

Wireless is the reason. Let's all repeat: Wireless. There is no reason your iPhone can't be as port-free as the Apple Watch. Which is why USB-C (in place of Lightning) is a step backwards to this goal, in every single regard.

Regular wireless charging is slower than corded. Fast wireless charging is about the same as corded, but very much slower than corded fast charging.

It's waaaay to early for a portless iPhone or any smartphone. Wireless charging is not in that advance stage yet, at least what's known to the public. And keeping a charge while gaming, using GPS, streaming, and etc, is something people are not willing to give up yet.

 

[OnTheZone]

LOL, yeah that's a forum problem, not a phone problem. The nice thing about USB-C is the cable is symmetrical, in that either end can be connected to the phone or power source (unlike Lightning), and it doesn't matter which side is "up" (like Lightning). I think it would be a welcome change, especially for those who travel.

Now if they offered a USB c to USB c in the box only that would suck but I'll just buy a couple USB to USB c for computer and car. oh well crap happens.

 

[Otaviano]

Apart from being marginally thinner, I can't see there being any real advantages to Lightning.

USB C is the standard across all devices heading forward.

The cable to rule them all. And not some proprietary crapol.

Well Lightning is a solid connector, where as the USB-C connector is hallow and could therefore bend or receive damage as time goes on.

Design wise I give the win to Lightning. USB-C wins on being widely adopted and used.

 

[Ramchi]

It seems (physically) Lightning is the Male version of USB-C...! Maybe Apple anticipated or even contributed to this standard!