As a longtime Android user I can go through a lifetime of bliss regardless of what type of charger I carry with me; If I have a USB-C charger or cable, I’m pretty much golden. But after the switch from Android to iPhone some three months ago, that wild abandonment has been completely torpedoed.
It’s thanks to Apple for sticking with the Lightning connection for the iPhone 13 Pro, my current everyday phone, instead of adopting USB-C as is done with most of its other products – let’s talk about the standard iPads or AirPods Pro. I don’t talk.
So where once I walked to the nearest London Underground station with a skip in my step, heard the birds chirping, the sun peeked through the damp clouds of Britain, now the walk is one of dark paranoia and resentment , with my mind shuffling it’s gray matter in an attempt to remember whether I grabbed the Lightning cable before I left my apartment.
and you know what? I’m sick of it. I’ve embraced the Apple ecosystem, I’ve accepted the lack of customization for iOS and the walled garden’s approach to the App Store in favor of a slick and easy smartphone experience. But I’m annoyed and confused by the status of the Lightning port Apple can’t let go of. So much so that if this doesn’t change with the iPhone 14, I’ll likely revert to Android.
iPhone 14 must include USB-C
(Image credit: Evan Shenetes | Shutterstock)
USB-C connectivity for iPhones was rumored for a while, and after the iPhone 13 was abandoned, we’re now expecting it to pop up for the iPhone 14 or at least the iPhone 14 Pro.
The iPhone 13 range comes with a cable that is USB-C to Lightning. Sure, Apple could just make both ends USB-C and be done with it.
The most obvious reason is that it will give the next iPhone range a port that is now synonymous with most of the iPhone 13 range that comes with a cable that is USB-C to Lightning! Sure, Apple can make both ends USB-C and be done with… our picks for best phone as well as best laptop. And that means carrying almost one charger to charge all your mobile devices. It also means cutting down on the need for custom cables and charging bricks.
Of course, different devices use different charging standards; The USB-C PD of the Google Pixel 6 Pro doesn’t play well with the Warp Charge system of the OnePlus 9 Pro. But most USB-C chargers at a push will at least juice up a phone or tablet with little time.
What’s quite disappointing from Apple’s Lightning port approach is that the iPhone 13 range comes with a cable that is USB-C to Lightning! Sure, Apple could make both ends USB-C and be done with…
I think there are a lot of Lightning Port accessories out there. But I don’t believe there are prolific numbers of people using them, especially now that many of the best headphones or best noise-canceling earbuds are wireless. I also understand that there may be no clear motivation for Apple to drop the Lightning port, as doing so doesn’t really serve it and is likely to come in the next iPhone regardless of Apple fans.
But if Apple is going to preach to us about being eco-friendly and promoting recycling while at the same time not putting a charging brick in the iPhone box, I think the next step of responsibility will be to adopt a form of universal charger. After all, this is what the European Commission is insisting on. Meaning Apple may have to adopt USB-C even if it wants to stay in that market.
Add in the fact that USB-C is the dominant port on the new MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iPad Mini, and iPad Pro, and it’s not something Apple isn’t used to switching to USB-C.
USB-C and iPhone 14 Capability
(Image credit: Ian Zelbo | Front Page Tech)
Even if I shed light on the convenience and logic of an iPhone with a USB-C port, I also think that when it comes to opening up new and interesting features for the iPhone 14, especially the Pro version. If it does, it means a lot.
Lightning cables have a data transfer speed of 480 Mbps, while USB-C cables can reach up to 40 Gbps, and as a result can support more high-end peripherals than Lightning. We’ve seen this with the iPad Pro, as it can use USB-C to connect to ultra high-resolution displays, as well as editing suites for photos and videos with the ability to suck up files from DSLRs and other sources. can function as
While the iPad Pro is targeted at such creative work, I see no reason why the iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max can’t be used in the same way; This is especially true for the Max as it is likely to feature a 6.7-inch display similar to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
I’d love the idea of snapping a few photos on my DSLR and then editing them on the fly using the capable apps and tools I’ve come across all the way to iOS 15. Plus, I could then split the photos and footage captured on the iPhone, giving me a creative suite in the palm of my hands. Or alternatively, I can back up a slew of ProRAW photos or just iPhone snaps and videos to a higher-capacity external SSD, giving me an extra layer of redundancy when iCloud or Google Photos go down.
This may be wishful thinking, but the only reason I see Apple blocking it is to force people to get an iPad Air or iPad Pro to go with the iPhone. And it’s that cynical thinking that has made me overemphasize Apple’s use of the Lightning port.
In short, if Apple doesn’t adopt USB-C for the iPhone 14, I’d see it not only as an insult to consumers, but also a move by Cupertino to turn its back on iPhone capability. I really hope that’s not the case, but me and you, dear readers, will have to wait until fall before we can see what’s next for the iPhone.
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