Apple will finally replace the Lightning port on the iPhone 15 with a USB-C port in the second half of 2023, said Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a tweet from earlier today.
Apple has used its proprietary Lightning connector/port combination to power and sync the iPhone since the debut of the iPhone 5, while the rest of the smartphone industry has moved to USB-C. Kuo says that his latest supply chain survey indicates that Apple will dump the Lightning port in favor of a USB-C port in 2023. Kuo noted that USB-C would improve transfer speeds on the iPhone and improve charging speeds.
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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 had previously said that Apple would not move from the Lightning connector for the “foreseeable future.” He had said that if Apple switched to USB-C it would be harmful to Apple’s MiFi business and has lesser waterproof specification.
However, Apple appears to have a change of heart on the subject, which was possibly spurred by the pressure the company is feeling from the European Union, which is pushing legislation that would require Apple to adopt USB-C on all iPhones, iPads, and AirPods sold in Europe. Apple has already made the move to USB-C on most of its iPad lineup.
