Respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that Apple could switch from Lightning to USB-C with iPhone 15 next year, despite previously reporting that the Lightning connector would remain on the iPhone for the “foreseeable future” amid pressure from a legislation from the European Parliament to replace Lightning with USB-C on future products.
“My latest survey indicates that 2H23 new iPhone will abandon Lightning port and switch to USB-C port,” said Kuo in a tweet today. “USB-C could improve iPhone’s transfer and charging speed in hardware designs, but the final spec details still depend on iOS support.”
Despite it previously being believed Apple would continue to use the Lightning Connector on all future products until wireless charging eventually replaces the need for wired charges, if Kuo’s suggestion today is to be believed, it would seem that Apple is now bending to EU pressure to adopt the USB-C standard across its products sold across Europe.
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It’s expected to see existing USB-C-related suppliers of Apple’s ecosystem (e.g., IC controller, connector) become the market’s focus in the next 1-2 years, thanks to vast orders from iPhones and accessories’ adoption of USB-C ports.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 11, 2022
Kuo perviously noted that one of the main factors in Apple keeping the Lightning connector on the iPhone is the profitable Made for iPhone (MFi) programme, Apple’s licensing program for manufacturers who pay to have their products certified as official MFi compatible.
