Other Talk About A Portless iPhone Future Honestly Scares Me

[neteng101]

Sure full cordless might sound cool in theory - but the reality is that wireless charging means exactly the opposite - you're now stuck with far less sources to charge up with as USB-B (no, not USB-C) is now super available as a power source. Hop on a plane, in your car, at major travel hubs, etc - yup, you'll more than likely find a USB-B source to charge up with. I'm fine if Lightning remains just requiring a cable.

The other rub is Carplay - many cars now support wired Carplay - and cars have a longer time between replacement. Wireless Carplay is a very small percentage of the cars capable of Carplay today. I'm not replacing my car just for wireless Carplay - that's totally ridiculous.

The reality is that a wire free iPhone would result in one having to carry a whole ton more - if there even exists a solution. At the minimum you have to be sure to have your wireless charger with you at all times, but even then there's still many other problems without solutions. It creates far more problems than it solves... and honestly a bit less battery life cause the port takes up space is a far less evil than not being able to charge up unless I have my wireless charging base/what not with me too.

This is like solving one problem (cutting the cord) and creating 10 more. I thought silliness at Apple died when Johnny left... too much form over function here.

 

[mailman199]

Someone could create a charging case with lightening for those that need it.

 

[batman75]

I don't understand the issue. The only things I use my lightning port for are CarPlay and Fast Charging.

15W MagSafe solves the charging issue.

I get your point about CarPlay. My 2018 Porsche Panamera also lacks Wireless CarPlay and requires use of a wire. But fortunately I was able to buy this product which solved that problem.

CPLAY2air wireless adapter for factory CarPlay on CARPLAY2air.com

Connect wirelessly to your factory Carplay in your Audi, VW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo or Porsche vehicle what was not possible before. Wired Android auto module inside. Convert wired CarPlay connection to the wireless one!

cplay2air.com

 

[Taz Mangus]

The other rub is Carplay - many cars now support wired Carplay - and cars have a longer time between replacement. Wireless Carplay is a very small percentage of the cars capable of Carplay today. I'm not replacing my car just for wireless Carplay - that's totally ridiculous.

I suspect Apple already has a solution for wired to wireless CarPlay. Apple has never done anything just because they can. They are very strategic in how they do things.

 

[pooryou]

Pro models should not lose ports. Professionals need ports.
im still pissed that they removed the headphone jack from the iPad ‘pro’...

 

[Deinocheirus]

Well no need to worry because it’s not happening anytime soon. People talking about it are extremely ignorant, frankly.

 

[xxray]

I agree that I don’t like the idea. I love having a multitude of charging options now based on wired vs wireless and different charging speeds. If my lightning port stops working or my wireless charging stops working, then I can use the other method.

I also have so many charging cables. A 10ft by my bed to charge at night, a cable for my iPad, a cable in my backpack for when I’m on the go, a cable in my car for charging/audio, a wireless charger on my desk. It’s very convenient.

I have more piece of mind using slow wired charging too. When using wireless charging, my phone always seems to get warm or even hot, even when I pick it up in the morning and it’s probably been fully charged and therefore not charging for over an hour. I just don’t like the idea of that, and it seems bad for battery longevity, even if Apple takes steps to mitigate risks.

Also, I like having the option to backup my iPhones to my Mac, to jailbreak, and to restore or update/downgrade using my Mac.

 

[iAdamator]

I don't understand the issue. The only things I use my lightning port for are CarPlay and Fast Charging.

15W MagSafe solves the charging issue.

I get your point about CarPlay. My 2018 Porsche Panamera also lacks Wireless CarPlay and requires use of a wire. But fortunately I was able to buy this product which solved that problem.

CPLAY2air wireless adapter for factory CarPlay on CARPLAY2air.com

Connect wirelessly to your factory Carplay in your Audi, VW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo or Porsche vehicle what was not possible before. Wired Android auto module inside. Convert wired CarPlay connection to the wireless one!

cplay2air.com

How good does it work? I’ve heard mixed things.

 

[iAdamator]

double post

 

[Stolz25]

I don't understand the issue. The only things I use my lightning port for are CarPlay and Fast Charging.

15W MagSafe solves the charging issue.

I get your point about CarPlay. My 2018 Porsche Panamera also lacks Wireless CarPlay and requires use of a wire. But fortunately I was able to buy this product which solved that problem.

CPLAY2air wireless adapter for factory CarPlay on CARPLAY2air.com

Connect wirelessly to your factory Carplay in your Audi, VW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo or Porsche vehicle what was not possible before. Wired Android auto module inside. Convert wired CarPlay connection to the wireless one!

cplay2air.com

Does that this actually work well? Doesn‘t appear my Accord is supported, but I didn’t realize something like that was even a possibility.

 

[Sorig]

Here I am wondering how one would be able restore their iPhone if there are no ports to connect to a computer.

Unless they’re making MagSafe transfer data too.

What if a future iOS update has a bug that puts your iPhone in a bootloop and now you have to take it to an Apple Store for them to restore it. You download your backup from iCloud and your saved settings put you in the bootloop again and now you have to drive back.

 

[batman75]

Does that this actually work well? Doesn‘t appear my Accord is supported, but I didn’t realize something like that was even a possibility.

It works flawlessly on my Porsche. On my wife’s 2020 Mercedes it does not work but the manufacturer says they have one coming out soon for that car (The Mercedes uses USB-C instead of USB-A).

See video below on how it works in my Porsche.

 

[batman75]

How good does it work? I’ve heard mixed things.

There are various brands of these adapters but this one works flawlessly for me. Here is a video I made showing it in my car.

 

[Stolz25]

Thanks for that. I’ll have to do some research on the options out there.

 

[bushman4]

Firstly Apple a couple years away from port less. If they go portless they have to make sure Battery is all day

 

[Nozuka]

If they go portless they have to make sure Battery is all day

has been for a long time...

 

[ian87w]

Sure full cordless might sound cool in theory - but the reality is that wireless charging means exactly the opposite - you're now stuck with far less sources to charge up with as USB-B (no, not USB-C) is now super available as a power source. Hop on a plane, in your car, at major travel hubs, etc - yup, you'll more than likely find a USB-B source to charge up with. I'm fine if Lightning remains just requiring a cable.

The other rub is Carplay - many cars now support wired Carplay - and cars have a longer time between replacement. Wireless Carplay is a very small percentage of the cars capable of Carplay today. I'm not replacing my car just for wireless Carplay - that's totally ridiculous.

The reality is that a wire free iPhone would result in one having to carry a whole ton more - if there even exists a solution. At the minimum you have to be sure to have your wireless charger with you at all times, but even then there's still many other problems without solutions. It creates far more problems than it solves... and honestly a bit less battery life cause the port takes up space is a far less evil than not being able to charge up unless I have my wireless charging base/what not with me too.

This is like solving one problem (cutting the cord) and creating 10 more. I thought silliness at Apple died when Johnny left... too much form over function here.

Did you mean USB-A? You can always bring a qi charging pad with you. Or, many people are already used to taking a powerbank with them, and many powerbanks now have qi charging pad on them to allow wireless charging.

The best bet to approach this portless iPhone is to be near the tail end of the tech, not at the forefront bleeding edge. So when Apple release a portless iPhone, you don't have to get it right away. Seems like Apple like to keep at least three generations of their products. That means it will take at least 3 years from the first portless iPhone for all the lineup to be portless. Just like the headphone jack removal, it took a while, and even today, there are still the base iPad and iPad mini with the headphone jack. When the time comes, and by the time you even need to upgrade your phone, I'm sure the ecosystem will be close to catching up.

 

[bandrews]

I suspect Apple already has a solution for wired to wireless CarPlay. Apple has never done anything just because they can. They are very strategic in how they do things.

Magsafe > USB dongle?

 

[fezzzer]

I don't understand the issue. The only things I use my lightning port for are CarPlay and Fast Charging.

15W MagSafe solves the charging issue.

I get your point about CarPlay. My 2018 Porsche Panamera also lacks Wireless CarPlay and requires use of a wire. But fortunately I was able to buy this product which solved that problem.

CPLAY2air wireless adapter for factory CarPlay on CARPLAY2air.com

Connect wirelessly to your factory Carplay in your Audi, VW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo or Porsche vehicle what was not possible before. Wired Android auto module inside. Convert wired CarPlay connection to the wireless one!

cplay2air.com

Unfortunately Magsafe doesn't yet solve the charging issue MagSafe Charges 2x Slower Than Wired 20W USB-C Charger

If you need a quick juice up before heading out, MagSafe just won't cut it at the moment. That said, as a first iteration of the new MagSafe technology, the future looks promising.

 

[Hakiroto]

I'm fine with everything apart from the CarPlay thing. I have a nice car that I don't plan on replacing any time soon and it only has wired CarPlay. I just checked out that adapter mentioned a few posts up and it looks like it'll support my car, which is good to know. I'm kind of used to the cable solution now so I guess I'll hold off and see what happens in a year or two from Apple.

 

[rorschach]

Here I am wondering how one would be able restore their iPhone if there are no ports to connect to a computer.

Unless they’re making MagSafe transfer data too.

What if a future iOS update has a bug that puts your iPhone in a bootloop and now you have to take it to an Apple Store for them to restore it. You download your backup from iCloud and your saved settings put you in the bootloop again and now you have to drive back.

Recovery partition like the Mac has had for years. Instead of just showing the "connect to iTunes/computer" icon, it could automatically boot to it and let you do a restore right on the phone. Could have an Internet recovery option as well, which would let you restore wirelessly even if the entire filesystem was completely borked.

 

[MisterSavage]

The only thing that gives me pause is WiFi sync. I'm one of those dinosaurs that still syncs music files to my iPhone and WiFi sync has been pretty unreliable. I often have to switch to a wired connection.

 

[solo118]

There are various brands of these adapters but this one works flawlessly for me. Here is a video I made showing it in my car.

But does it charge your phone? That is a big deal to many including myself. I want to charge my phone while using maps, music, or anything else Carplay can handle. Not to mention, who wants to buy another $100 product on top of a $1000 phone.

PS- My 2019 Audi A8 handles wireless Carplay (which has a wireless charger as well), so it is weird they did not put it on the Panamera as they are technically from the same parent company VW. Maybe they put it on a later model?

 

[batman75]

But does it charge your phone? That is a big deal to many including myself. I want to charge my phone while using maps, music, or anything else Carplay can handle. Not to mention, who wants to buy another $100 product on top of a $1000 phone.

PS- My 2019 Audi A8 handles wireless Carplay (which has a wireless charger as well), so it is weird they did not put it on the Panamera as they are technically from the same parent company VW. Maybe they put it on a later model?

Porsche started in 2019 with the Cayenne. The Panamera doesn’t get it till the 2021 model. Mine is the 2018.

Wireless charging plus wireless CarPlay is a solid solution. In my wife’s Mercedes there is a wireless charger in the center console. It is easier to drop the phone on that than to fumble with a cable. Plus keeps the car clean and free of loose cables.

 

[symphony]

I suspect Apple already has a solution for wired to wireless CarPlay. Apple has never done anything just because they can. They are very strategic in how they do things.

Hopefully Apple can make it work, and there is no compatibility issues that’s dependent on the maker of the car unit