Apple has stated that it will switch the iPhone to USB Type-C to adhere to a European Union law. This modification is anticipated to first appear in the new iPhone 15 series, which is expected to launch in 2023. The iPhone 15 series, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, would ditch the Lightning port in favor of USB Type-C, potentially improving data transfer rates dramatically. Only the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 15 Ultra may be able to connect to wired high-speed USB Type-C devices.
In a series of tweets, Kuo speculated that the USB 2.0 technology would be present in both the regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The 480Mbps transfer speeds provided by current Lightning connections are anticipated to be retained by these rumored Apple smartphones. The Pro versions are the only models expected to feature faster-wired data transfer rates.
It is expected that at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 will power the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, while Thunderbolt 3 could achieve up to 40Gbps, USB 3.2 technology can only carry data at up to 20Gbps. According to Kuo, this could lead to a rise in the need for high-speed transfer chips. Notably, most Android smartphones only support USB 2.0 technology right now.
The EU has forced Apple to adopt USB Type-C technology. It’s expected that the Cupertino corporation will finish updating the iPhones in 2019, and the law will take effect in 2024. It has already switched to USB Type-C for its Mac operating systems, iPad devices, and other accessories.
Additionally, according to a recent rumor, Kuo claims that the iPhone 15 Pro models would have solid-state buttons instead of traditional volume and power buttons. Furthermore, these models are expected to have internal left and right Taptic Engines from Apple that will simulate the physical clicking of buttons using haptic feedback. Additionally, he predicts that the iPhone 15 series will be unveiled in the second part of 2019.