The iPhone 14 Is Unlikely to Be Portless, Here's Why

[Good User Name]

All I really want is a Thunderbolt/USB-C port to replace the lightning port.

Other phones with USB-C have as good or better water protection and there aren’t more stories about accumulation with them than with lighting.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the perfect opportunity to introduce the upgraded connector and the new pill shaped notch.

 

[lhammer610]

Agreed with the comment about CarPlay requiring a wired connection. My car is new and wired connection is the only way to connect.

There are some aftermarket 'wireless CarPlay adapters', but the reviews indicate that they don't always work well. And they are just another piece of electronics junk.

Apple is caught between a rock and a hard place if their only fix for the USB-C mandate is no connector. But a no connector iPhone would be a mistake for many.

I am surprised with the push for universal connectors. In the past, it would have been micro-USB which was terrible. Now it is USB-C. When a better connector comes along, how long will it take for the regulators to allow its implementation?

And what is the big deal with a different phone connection when it goes to a charger that accepts USB. And the charger evolution from USB-A to USB-C causes similar problems.

 

[T2Rife]

I think they would use the same smart connector that’s on the back of the iPad Pro as an interim step. It’s capable of power and data. That would transition people from ports -> adapter -> wireless. Much like they did with the headphones.

 

[xxray]

Going portless is not a good idea. You lose faster, more efficient charging. You have to spend $40-$50 on a magsafe charger + the wall plug. You lose out on wired data transfer and backups. You‘re screwed if you have wired Apple CarPlay. All around lose-lose, and for what gain? Improved water resistance? The current iPhones are already water resistant enough.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Why are you acting like WiFi 6 doesn't exist?

First thing I thought of actually was AirDrop. Point to point wifi at its full speed. They can build upon that for developing and other high speed low latency use cases.

 

[TechRunner]

It's not that big of a deal to have to plug in a cable.

That's pretty much been my response to wireless charging so far.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Why not go optical? Use the LEDs in the back camera for communication? It would require a dock that could enforce the position of the iPhone, but it would be faster than a wired connection.

Regarding 'waste', that falls flat with me. After getting so irked by my AW4 chirping all night, I found out, largely from comments here, that the flip-up dock/stand I was using was designed for earlier AW's, and they changed the convex back on the 4 making it incompatible with earlier dock connections. It's not off by much, but apparently enough that it will adhere, but not charge reliably. Imagining all of the tossed and perfectly usable AW docks and cords, all because of a slight change of the curvature of the back. Where was their environmental concern over that annoying issue. (Although the flip-up dock apparently does work it one doesn't use it for the one reason one would buy it for: displaying the watch face to display the time like a bedside clock. *sigh*

Lightning has a flaw that they baked into it. Plugging in the cable can cause arcing, slight arcing, but it eventually burns out contacts on cables. Apple cables seem sturdier, but even they eventually fail with scorched and incinerated contacts. They perhaps could have managed the timing of the connections like the USB-A connections do? Or just buy better quality cables.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I've read in a few places that wireless charging increases the speed of battery degradation over time. If that's true (I'm no engineer, so rely on smarter heads to correct me) that would be another hurdle to overcome before killing off the port.

I would think that charging is charging. Unless the Qi electronics induce some noise/harmonics, I'd be surprised if there was that much of a difference at the charged end. Better filtering might be a necessity?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

So many people want USB-C to replace the Lightning port (especially since Apple is adopting it in so many other places) and yet all the stories still center on NO ports...

I was positive that USB-C on the iPad would be the death of Lightning on the iPhone. Positive that the 13 would go 'C', and then it didn't. I'd think it will go 'C', eventually. People already carry an assortment of cables. When I travel, I've got at least 5 different cables I have to bring along. The variety of USB incarnations, and Lightning. I have tried to get everything to plug into my Apple iPad USB-C charger block which helps quite a bit. But, please industry, deliver onto us yet another connector, better than all the others, so we have one more cable to carry...

 

[hmorneau]

The Apple Watch is portless (since Series 7, there was a tiny diag port hidden before). For file transfers, the MagSafe could add that feature, so wireless between the phone and the MagSafe (very short distance) (they use a similar tech on the Series 7 for the diag port now) and it would allow high-speed cable transfer.

No port also saves them from the European regulation and it allows them 50m WR rating, so underwater photography.

If they were to move to USB-C they would have done it at the same time as the iPad...

Breaking existing legacy accessories they have done it once, I'm sure they can do it again. Anyway, the future is wireless.

 

[4jasontv]

Why do we need to attach anything to charge it? Wireless charging can already charge high capacity batteries and power battery free devices. I want to say CES 2019 had an amazing demo of the potential of this tech.

Edit: this company even had a ces 2021 booth.

 

[Woochoo]

Why would they remove the only port it has for the sake of it, when it barely affects the design and thickness (something Apple finally seems to stop getting obsessed with), and whichgives users more options? The lighting (or if we unlikely ever get a USB C) port is used for charging, transfering data, plugging sound cards and MIDIcontrollers (not all of them have OSC to connect, only MIDI) and so on.

Many people has iPhone chargers, just a tiny fraction has wireless ones, and most external batteries/power banks (except Apple fancy ones) must be plugged, so if you find yourself without battery outside with a wireless iPhone you are basically screwed. Not to say wireless charge is worse in every aspect: way less efficient and slower, the only thing going on for it is being "cool". It's nice to have it as an extra option, but having it as the only one just doesn't make any sense.

 

[baryon]

Wireless charging is mildly convenient but it doesn't replace cables. A wireless charger is larger and usually more expensive than a single cable (as the wireless charger also need its own USB cable). So when travelling, throwing a cable into your bag is so much more convenient than having a cable PLUS a wireless puck. Not to mention that if your phone battery dies in the middle of your day, you can just plug it into a power bank and leave it in your pocket while it recharges. You can't do that with a wireless charger as it's thick and if it gets misaligned it stops working. Oh sure you can get the fancy magnetic ones that stay in place but those are even more expensive and still more bulky than a cable especially in your pocket. A wireless charger can never be less bulky than a cable because it has its own cable.

So now you may have a lightning cable next to your bed, one in your car and one in your bag. Replacing all three with wireless chargers will be expensive. Not to mention wireless car phone holders are way more expensive than their non-wireless counterparts.

And mix in the unfortunate fact that wireless charging is very inefficient, and suddenly your already underpowered power bank now has significantly less useable capacity. And since wireless chargers are wired themselves, the extra convenience is not like what you got with AirPods where there is simply no cable whatsoever. All you get is the slight convenience of not having the plug the cable in.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

The Apple Watch is portless (since Series 7, there was a tiny diag port hidden before). For file transfers, the MagSafe could add that feature, so wireless between the phone and the MagSafe (very short distance) (they use a similar tech on the Series 7 for the diag port now) and it would allow high-speed cable transfer.

No port also saves them from the European regulation and it allows them 50m WR rating, so underwater photography.

If they were to move to USB-C they would have done it at the same time as the iPad...

Breaking existing legacy accessories they have done it once, I'm sure they can do it again. Anyway, the future is wireless.

I think it's too late for communications over MagSafe. If one of concerned over e-waste, imagine the plethora of tossed MagSafe pucks that are deaf. Not to mention the added frustration of trying to find the one capable puck out of a pile of older ones. Unless there is some hidden wireless capability with MagSafe everyone has missed, it's going to be a mess if they finally introduce it. *shrug*

 

[TechRunner]

Not to mention that if your phone battery dies in the middle of your day, you can just plug it into a power bank and leave it in your pocket while it recharges.

Especially when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere on a hiking trip!

 

[SalisburySam]

Or at least a two version strategy for a few transition years. People have the option to buy a portless design if they want or with the dual charging version like they presently have. Apple is unlikely to do that though. A switch to USB-C would mean all the cables over the years are largely useless now but would be a good interim move until the entire industry goes towards a wireless only solution.

The problem with a two-version strategy is that it cannot be called “courageous” and is therefore anathema to Apple.

 

[topmounter]

I can see Apple offering Magsafe adapters ala carte that support Lightning and/or USB-C to support existing cables and chargers.

 

[jz0309]

time to ditch Lightning and implement USB-C

 

[Juuro]

But when the EU regulation goes into effect, Apple (and others) will have a two-year transition period after which every device they release will either have to have USB-C or no ports at all. For now, the regulation is still a proposal, but eventually Apple will have to do one or the other.

 

[3247]

My guess is that iPhone and iPad will eventually be wireless, and at the same time iPhone Pro will switch to USB-C (just as iPad Pro).

 

[B4U]

Unless Apple is willing to foot the bill to backport the wireless CarPlay to millions of vehicles that only have wired CarPlay, this portless design is not gonna happen anytime soon.
It is simple mathematics. No one in their right mind would replace their vehicle just to accommodate the limitation of their phone.

 

[thalegold]

It would be stupid for Apple to ditch the lightning port. The main reason is external usb devices. A number of people connect to their phone via the lightning port for musical instruments, classes, medical devices, etc. Removing this would take down a large number of other companies who are providing connectivity to the iPhone through the lightning port.

Also, instead of focusing on this type of stupidity, why not focus on things like:

1. Get rid of the background in the dock area of the iPhone GUI. So sick of looking at it.
2. Improve the battery life so the phone doesn't have to be charged for several days. I'm talking battery longevity.
3. Make it so that the phone doesn't get extremely hot when in use. Better dissipation.
4. Make it so that my calls don't drop, get bad connectivity in areas, or people saying "I can't hear you" when on a call.
5. Give the ability to choose between Touch ID or FaceID or both.
6. Bring back the curved corners because it fits the curve of the palm of your hand better.
7. Focus on the medical side of the software. Diabetics should be able to take their readings via the phone/watch.
8. Make the phone itself a material that does not bust, crack, break, etc. Then you don't have to worry about things like "Right to Repair" and users won't be so upset that they spent $2000 on a phone that breaks.
9. Get rid of the stupid notch. Look at what other companies are doing.
10. Change the GUI interface for the software. You have used the same look and feel since the first iPhone was announced. At least give us something new and exciting and no, widgets were not it. That's like giving the ability to Copy and Paste and saying "See isn't that cool" when it should have been there in the first place.

There are so many other things that are more important to focus on. But Tim Cook is a business man where Steve Jobs was an innovator. We really need innovation back.

 

[reallynotnick]

Is that practical when WiFi consumes massive amounts of power compared to BT?

Yes, because it's that much faster it the power consumption per gigabyte balances out.

The phones may have WiFi 6 but not many have that at home yet.

Ok WiFi 5 is also way faster than Bluetooth... hell wireless G from 2003 is way faster than Bluetooth. It's asinine to use Bluetooth as the measuring stick for wireless data transfer speed as it's not meant for sending large amounts of data and Apple would never use it as such. That's why AirDrop uses WiFi for the actual data transfer.

 

[JoeShades]

This has already been solved with devices like carplay2air and the like. I’m honestly shocked apple hasn’t already come out with such a device of their own. I added wireless CarPlay to my 2017 Honda Civic with this years ago

I have the 2018 Civic EX-T and have thought about getting this, I guess it works well in civics?

 

[JustSomebody12]

I think they want to go portless, the eSIM voices seem to confirm this move.

The only problem about going portless is that wireless charging wastes too much energy:

Data transfer can be solved by adding an AirDrop-like connection based on WiFi, and Recovery can be solved through a wireless connection to another Apple device, such as an iPhone, an iPad or a Mac.