I keep hearing Apple prognosticators predict that the iPhone is definitely on course to go all USB-C in the very near future. Mainly because the European Union issued an anti-waste decree that electronics need to standardize on USB-C. But I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion yet.
Never mind that that the nanny-state which is the European Union can’t actually make Apple do anything. They can only declare that Apple can’t sell iPhones in the EU if they refuse to standardize. But by my estimates, iPhone sales within the EU contribute less than 10% of Apple’s global net sales. Would it sting? Yeah, but losing less than 10% of your net sales is well within the range where Apple would consider it.
The thing that I keep coming back to is this, wouldn’t Apple want to take the iPhone totally portless eventually? If they do, would they really want to force the public to switch to USB-C only to drop it a year or two later? It would be far less traumatic for the public to simply switch from Lightning to wireless. Nobody wants to end up with hundreds of dollars of USB-C accessories that aren’t needed after only 2 or 3 years. Maybe less.
The thing that I keep coming back to is this, wouldn’t Apple want to take the iPhone totally portless eventually? If they do, would they really want to force the public to switch to USB-C only to drop it a year or two later? It would be far less traumatic for the public to simply switch from Lightning to wireless. Nobody wants to end up with hundreds of dollars of USB-C accessories that aren’t needed after only 2 or 3 years. Maybe less.
File Transfer Speeds
Thus far, the only credible reason which I’ve heard for making the transition to USB-C is that 4K video file transfers take far too long over Lightning. I’ve heard of video files taking up to an hour via cable. I agree that is far too long. My iPad Pro with USB-C can do it in a few minutes.
But there has been a lot of chatter regarding how fast wireless file transfers could be using ultra wide band. And Apple has been stuffing their U1 ultra wide band chip into their iPhones since the iPhone 11.
If files transfers are the main problem with Lightning, that can be solved today with wireless already. That is not a valid reason to make the iPhone take a sharp detour into USB-C land.
Thus far, the only credible reason which I’ve heard for making the transition to USB-C is that 4K video file transfers take far too long over Lightning. I’ve heard of video files taking up to an hour via cable. I agree that is far too long. My iPad Pro with USB-C can do it in a few minutes.
But there has been a lot of chatter regarding how fast wireless file transfers could be using ultra wide band. And Apple has been stuffing their U1 ultra wide band chip into their iPhones since the iPhone 11.
If files transfers are the main problem with Lightning, that can be solved today with wireless already. That is not a valid reason to make the iPhone take a sharp detour into USB-C land.
The iPad Is Already USB-C
The other reason I’ve heard which people want to hold up as the reason why the iPhone is going to go USB-C is that Apple has already introduced it onto the iPad. But it makes sense on the iPad. Apple calls the iPad a “computer” and all computers have ports. I now have a dock for my M1 iPad Pro and via the USB-C port I can have an external monitor, storage, microphones, or other accessories all hooked up simultaneously. It’s awesome. But my iPad Pro is my main workhorse computer.
Apple has never, even once, referred to the iPhone as a “computer”.
What About the Mac?
The thing about ultra wide band is that you need a U1 chip to participate. And thus far, Macs don’t get the U1 chip. But that could change quickly and easily. Apple controls the Mac destiny and could easily design in a U1 equivalent at any time. And the icing on the cake, is that many Mac buyers who are otherwise satisfied with their machines, would probably upgrade just to get the new speedy wireless transfer speeds.
This all applies to the iPad as well. There are no U1 chips in iPads. But if ultra wide band becomes a thing, adding the U1 could drive an avalanche of upgrades.
The other reason I’ve heard which people want to hold up as the reason why the iPhone is going to go USB-C is that Apple has already introduced it onto the iPad. But it makes sense on the iPad. Apple calls the iPad a “computer” and all computers have ports. I now have a dock for my M1 iPad Pro and via the USB-C port I can have an external monitor, storage, microphones, or other accessories all hooked up simultaneously. It’s awesome. But my iPad Pro is my main workhorse computer.
Apple has never, even once, referred to the iPhone as a “computer”.
What About the Mac?
The thing about ultra wide band is that you need a U1 chip to participate. And thus far, Macs don’t get the U1 chip. But that could change quickly and easily. Apple controls the Mac destiny and could easily design in a U1 equivalent at any time. And the icing on the cake, is that many Mac buyers who are otherwise satisfied with their machines, would probably upgrade just to get the new speedy wireless transfer speeds.
This all applies to the iPad as well. There are no U1 chips in iPads. But if ultra wide band becomes a thing, adding the U1 could drive an avalanche of upgrades.
Wireless Would Be Cheaper Than USB-C
Using an integrated chip for ultra wide band files transfers vs a USB-C port would increase iPhone gross margins significantly. The material and labor saved by not having to drill that hole into the frame and assemble the connections would be a nice savings. Plus, it is statistically proven that the less ports a device has, the lower the warranty claims will be. It’s a win on multiple levels. If Apple was teetering on the edge of which way to go and this is the tie-breaker, ultra wide band will win.
What Will Happen?
Despite what all the rumor mongers are saying, I would wager that the iPhone will never get a USB-C port. All the people saying that it will, are the same people that said the iPad would never get real external monitor support.
Using an integrated chip for ultra wide band files transfers vs a USB-C port would increase iPhone gross margins significantly. The material and labor saved by not having to drill that hole into the frame and assemble the connections would be a nice savings. Plus, it is statistically proven that the less ports a device has, the lower the warranty claims will be. It’s a win on multiple levels. If Apple was teetering on the edge of which way to go and this is the tie-breaker, ultra wide band will win.
What Will Happen?
Despite what all the rumor mongers are saying, I would wager that the iPhone will never get a USB-C port. All the people saying that it will, are the same people that said the iPad would never get real external monitor support.
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