Thursday, December 12, 2024
Archived Post

It’s likely that 2019 iPhones will abandon Lightning ports for USB-C

Apple may replace Lightning ports in its 2019 iPhone line-up for USB-C ports, according to DigiTimes, quoting unnamed “sources at analog IC vendors.” Chances this rumor is true, according to the Sellers Research Group (that’s me): 90%.

It makes sense. Apple has already incorporated USB-C on its Mac laptop line-up and included USB-C ports on the iMac. 

And Lightning is an Apple-only technology, whereas USB-C is cross-platform. And the former’s symmetrical design and ability to both power a device and transfer data from it are now duplicated by USB Type-C. Also, the popularity of USB has already lead to the demise of another Apple developed tech: FireWire.

And what of Thunderbolt? It’s in no danger. Thunderbolt 3 brings Thunderbolt to USB-C. Co-designed by Apple and Intel, Thunderbolt is made to losslessly daisy-chain up to six devices, and Thunderbolt 3 can also provide up to 10-100 watts of power to those devices.


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Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.