Apple Already Testing USB-C for iPhone, Report

You may soon be able to get rid of the Lightning cable from your phone.

Following reports from trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that predict Apple will eventually abandon its proprietary Lightning connector in favor of the more widely adopted USB-C standard in future iPhones, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman lends his credibility to the theory. “People familiar with the situation” informed him earlier today that testing to replace Lightning with USB-C has already begun.

This is fantastic news for people who are tired of juggling dozens of cords. According to Kuo, Apple has been hesitant to abandon its Lightning connector, which is not used by non-Apple devices, because it is better for “MFI business profitability” and has a higher waterproof specification than USB. But there’s no denying the ease of connecting all of your devices with a single cable, and Apple is all about convenience.

But don’t lavish praise on Apple for this likely move. Kuo’s initial disclosure, based on a poll of his own industry contacts, came shortly after the EU’s Market and Consumer Protection Committee voted in favor of legislation mandating the use of USB-C on all small and medium-sized devices.

Despite the fact that this update makes the Universal Serial Bus connector truly universal, it also adds USB-quicker C transfer and charging capabilities to those devices. Because USB-C is a newer standard than Lightning, it can transport data at speeds of up to 40 Gbps, whereas Lightning’s top speed remains 480 Mbps. Much of Apple’s ecosystem works around this by relying on downloads, but Lightning is clearly showing its age.

Naturally, because so much of Apple’s current ecosystem is based on Lightning connectors, any future USB-C iPhones or other products would require a Lightning to USB-C adaptor. Bloomberg reports that this is also being tested. While a USB-C conversion would be beneficial for those who are new to Apple, it may be inconvenient for those who are already heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. Third-party accessory manufacturers, such as chargers and automobile adapters, will have to reconsider their products if the change is implemented.

When will the iPhone switch to USB-C?

Any changes, according to Bloomberg, would not occur until “at the earliest” 2023. When we reported on Kuo’s revelation, we said the iPhone 15, not the iPhone 14. To put it another way, don’t put off purchasing Apple products because future models might be easier to connect to the rest of your gear. This change is still a long way off and is currently only a rumor.

Overall, this move, as well as any move away from tying devices to a proprietary standard, would make Apple’s ecosystem more egalitarian. Apple, on the other hand, may be able to circumvent the issue by developing a completely portless iPhone that relies solely on MagSafe charging. This, however, would prevent some vehicles from connecting and could potentially slow charging and data transfer speeds.

Will Apple TV be reduced in price?

By the way, the iPhone isn’t the only Apple product Kuo has predicted. He previously stated that Apple will release “a new generation of Apple TV that improves cost structure” in the second half of this year.

The most affordable Apple TV is $150 and has a maximum resolution of 1080p. The most expensive 4K model retails for $179. In comparison, a Roku Streaming Stick with 4K capability costs only $50. Even though Apple’s offerings have some wiggle room as luxury items, a discount is in order.