Apple is one of the last big companies not to have a USB-C port on its smartphones. But considering the EU common charger law, which comes into effect in 2024, there have been rumours about Apple launching an iPhone bearing a USB-C port as early as this year with the iPhone 15. A new rumour now suggests that the functionality of this new connectivity port could be severely limited when it breaks cover later this year.
This rumour originates from the Chinese social media site Weibo and indicates that the USB-C port and the cables on the iPhone 15 models will include authenticator chips similar to the Lightning ports on current iPhone models. The Weibo post suggests that Apple has designed a custom IC (integrated circuit) to be used on the next-gen iPhone’s USB-C ports, effectively turning it into a redesigned version of the existing Lightning port.
Also Read: Curved edges could be coming to the iPhone 15 series: Report
An early unofficial render of the iPhone 15 Ultra
In a separate development, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple may even limit the speeds of the USB-C ports on entry-level iPhones, i.e., the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus, to USB 2.0. Meanwhile, the 15 Pro and Pro Max/Ultra variants will probably get snappy Thunderbolt data transfer speeds.
Lightning in a new avatar
As MacRumors points out, this behaviour wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for Apple, as it has already done this with an existing device – the 10th-generation iPad, which also receives a USB-C port, but its speeds are capped to USB 2.0. Meanwhile, the more powerful iPad Pro models get significantly faster transfer speeds. So customers are still getting the Lightning experience, but with a different connector and port combination.
Whatever course Apple decides to take with the iPhone 15 lineup, we hope it doesn’t end up being more of the same.
Source: Weibo