Portless iPhones or USB Type-C on iPhones? The goods and bads. How smartphones might change in the coming years
When it comes to electronic gadgets, we basically have three different ports to juice up most of our portable gadgets. USB Type-C and micro-USB are commonly used on most smartphones and peripherals, while the lightning port is reserved by Apple for use on iPhones. However, recently the European Commission has come up with a proposal to unify the charging port across all devices, and if it is later mandated by the European parliament, all electronic gadgets could have the highly-appreciated USB Type-C charging port.
If the proposal is accepted by the European Parliament, the companies will have 24 months, or 2 years to comply. This sounds good, but it’s like a nail in the coffin for Apple that uses a lightning connecter for charging the iPhones, even though the USB Type-C connecter is far superior in several aspects. As all the gadgets should have the USB Type-C port, Apple will have to comply with the regulations, ditch the lightning connecter, and replace it with the commonly used USB Type-C connecter. But will that happen? Let’s find out what are the options available to Apple, and what can be the far-reaching consequences.
What are the choices available to Apple?
The first is the most straightforward, and that is, Apple will use the USB Type-C port, instead of the lightning connecter, however, that is less likely to happen, and I will talk about why later in this article.
The second is, Apple might get rid of ports at all on its upcoming iPhones altogether, as Apple did dare to take the bold move, and remove the 3.5 mm jack some years ago. Instead of any port at all, iPhones may come with the MagSafe wireless charging standard, which has evolved quite a bit since it was first introduced with Apple iPhone 12.
Why Apple might not go with the Type-C standard on iPhones?
If Apple adopts the Type-C standard, it is going to be great for us consumers, as we can have one charger, one cable to charge all our devices, including iPhones. However, Apple has its is own ecosystem, as we all know, and the company wants that we strictly stick to that ecosystem.
Previously, as well all know, Apple removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack, and one big reason for that move was to promote the Apple AirPods because selling Apple AirPods is highly profitable.
Now, if Apple moves on with the Type-C connecter, that can affect their business. Now that Apple will have to ditch the lightning connecter, it can be the right time for them to promote their MagSafe wireless charging technology.
As the complete thing is revolving around charging ports, it is highly unlikely that the European Parliament will mandate the use of only one wireless charging standard across all devices. That way, Apple might limit charging the upcoming iPhones only by the MagSafe wireless charger. In that case, the other regular wireless charging stations will be useless with iPhones, and the iPhone users will be compelled to purchase the MagSafe wireless charger, making the other wireless charging stations crap.
What if Apple adopts the USB Type-C connecter?
If Apple adopts the USB Type-C connector, the future will be brighter and will be environmentally friendlier. Let’s find out why.
The European Commission came up with the proposal to move on with the Type-C standard for several reasons, and one of them is to put a check on e-waste. E-waste or electronic waste is harmful to the environment, and even the smallest step to reduce e-waste will make the planet greener. If all phones use the Type-C connecter, one charging brick and cable can be used to charge all of them, and it will help companies to reduce their smartphone costs by offering the users a choice to get their phones without a bundles charger. That way, you will never need to stop using the old chargers while getting a brand new smartphone, or even the glossy new iPhone.
Most smartphones today have some sort of fast charging. However, these fast chargers aren’t interoperable. A fast charger for Samsung might not fast-charge a Redmi, or vice versa. European Commission also wants to make the fast-charging technology interoperable. That way, you will need only one fast charger to charge all devices that support fast charging. Again, this will eventually cut down on e-waste.
The USB Type-C standard is great in different aspects, and even laptops today come with the Type-C port, either for data transfer or for powering the device. However, there was one brand that used otherwise. If Apple starts using the Type-C connecter, the Type-C connecter will be more improved, and that might be like a utopia come true.
So, besides making the planet greener, there will be several advantages for consumers, if Apple goes with the Type-C connecter.
What if apple doesn’t go with the Type-C connecter?
Well, it is highly likely, Apple will not go with the Type-C connecter, for business reasons, and I have already discussed why. Let’s find out, what will be the consequences in such a situation, where the company can’t use the lightning connecter for the regulator’s mandate, and will not go with Type-C for business reasons.
Starting with the advantages, we might see portless iPhones, or portless smartphones altogether, as smartphone manufacturers have the tendency to blindly copy Apple. Most premium phones today don’t have the 3.5 mm headphone jack. This will make the smartphones thinner, and manufacturing water-resistant smartphones will become even easier. That way, we can also get budget water-resistant phones.
As I just said, companies blindly follow Apple, no matter whether they do that right or wrong, and portless devices might be the future, there are some dark sides too. The first is, the old chargers are no longer going to work as the wireless chargers will takeover. The movement of those old yet superior Type-C, and Micro-USB chargers and cables, from our shelves to the trash will add massive e-waste.
Wireless chargers are not as straightforward as regular chargers, and to make them work perfectly, and offer fast wireless charging, additional expenses will be involved in manufacturing these dishes. So, consumers will have to purchase wireless chargers separately. But, if the manufacturers bundle a wireless charger, the ultimate costs will increase, and cheap smartphones will again turn into an unachievable dream for a few years.
Portless phones will be great but at the same time, there will be several issues, as I just said. I just wish Apple and other companies play a balanced game. However, it is yet to be seen, what Apple eventually does, and how exactly the other brands react. This was just my opinion on, what Apple or other brands can be up to, in terms of juicing up the devices.
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Nice
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