Analyst: The iPhone 16 may have no ports at all.

It is hardly breaking news that the EU's new legislation requiring USB-C connectors for iPhones will compel Apple to make the changeover in the near future. According to rumours, the next iPhone, which is expected in 2023, will transition to USB-C because of these rules, but industry insiders believe that this will only be a temporary solution to Apple's port problem.

Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg analyst and well-known Apple tipper, claims that Apple will eventually switch to a wholly wireless system, therefore USB-C iPhones will only be a temporary solution. Before becoming fully portless with the iPhone 16 next year, the iPhone 15 will reportedly be the only model featuring USB-C.

The base iPad will also make the switch to USB-C later this year, so the iPhone 15 won't be the first gadget to do so. The expert predicts that further accessories like the AirPods Pro, Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and others will gradually catch up.

Devices like the Apple Watch that solely enable wireless charging are specifically exempt from the EU law, and Apple intends to do the same. According to Gurman, wireless charging will eventually replace MagSafe as the exclusive type of charging for iPhones. Even iPads are anticipated to eventually stop supporting wired charging, in keeping with Apple's aim for a wireless future.

Additionally, Gurman claims that Apple has been obstinate in keeping the Lightning port on iPhones despite transitioning to USB-C on its iPads and Macs because it wants to promote the USB-C transition as its own concept rather than an imposed legislation. Not to mention, 4K ProRes video files from iPhones will be able to be transferred more quickly thanks to USB-C. Even Wi-Fi has transfer speeds that surpass what you can now achieve with the Lightning port.

According to someone with knowledge of the issue, Apple Inc. is testing future iPhone models that swap out the current Lightning charging port with the more common USB-C connector. This could help the company comply with impending European rules.

In addition to testing USB-C models recently, Apple is developing an adaptor that will enable future iPhones to function with Lightning-compatible accessories, according to the people, who declined to be named because the information is confidential.

Apple would simplify the assortment of chargers used by its numerous gadgets by switching to USB-C. Already, the majority of the company's iPads and Macs use USB-C rather than Lightning. Given Apple's preference for simplicity, this implies that users cannot charge their iPhones, iPads, and Macs with the same charger. Additionally, the power bricks of wireless chargers for the iPhone and Apple Watch use the USB-C connector.

The decision, which analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also foresaw, would have trade-offs and could lead to customer misunderstanding. Although USB-C chargers are slightly bigger than Lightning chargers, they can provide faster charging and data transmission rates. Additionally, many current chargers for non-Apple devices, such as Android phones and tablets, would work with the new connectors.

The majority of Apple products, however, still make use of Lightning, including AirPods, the Apple TV remote, the MagSafe power pack, and the MagSafe Duo charger. It's unknown whether Apple will include the USB-C adapter in the box or charge extra for it, but it could help solve that problem.

Additionally, the change would limit Apple's influence over the market for iPhone accessories. Apple requires that accessory manufacturers pay a fee and submit to a rigorous approval process in order to use the Lightning port. Since most manufacturers of Android phones and other consumer electronics employ the USB-C standard, Apple may not be able to exercise its customary level of control.

Apple has been developing iPhones without a charging connector in recent years in order to promote the MagSafe wireless charging technology, which will be available in 2020. However, a wireless connection frequently takes longer to sync data with other devices and to charge a phone's battery. Additionally, not all circumstances, such as the design of some cars, make it useful.

The European Union's determination to compel phone and other device manufacturers to embrace USB-C is a major factor in the move. A majority of lawmakers supported legislation enacting such a requirement in April.

According to the proposal, "rechargeable through a wired cable mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld video-game consoles and portable speakers would have to be fitted with a USB Type-C port, independent of the manufacturer."