Apple is rumored to be making major changes for iPhone 8, like doing away with Touch ID in favor of a mini Touch Bar. Another big move, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal today, could be a switch from Lightning to USB-C.
An iPhone with USB-C instead of Lightning would have its pros and cons. But which would you prefer? Let us know in the poll below.
It might be five years old this September, but the Lightning connector still seems pretty fresh. Its reversible design makes it more versatile and more robust that the old 30-pin connector Apple devices used to use, and its tiny footprint means it’s ideal for super-slim phones and tablets.
But in recent years, Apple has been backing USB-C — a standard that’s just a small, and in many ways, even more powerful. The latest MacBook and MacBook Pro lineups use USB-C connectivity exclusively.
Unlike Lightning, USB-C is an open standard that can be used by anyone, and it is quickly being adopted by major consumer electronics manufacturers. USB-C ports can be found on the latest computers, smartphones, tablets, and more.
Switching to USB-C for iPhone 8 would make the handset compatible with all the USB-C accessories and peripherals already being manufactured for these devices, like external storage drives, battery packs, cables, and even displays.
It would also mean that you wouldn’t need to buy multiple accessories to use with different gadgets; the storage drives and cables you bought for your MacBook could also be plugged into your iPhone 8 using the same connectors.
Of course, the downside is that an iPhone 8 with USB-C wouldn’t be compatible with all the Lightning accessories you’ve already bought over the years. It would also allow the device to be connected to other peripherals that weren’t meant to be used with iPhone.
With all of this in mind, do you think Apple should make the switch to USB-C for future iPhones, or would you prefer to keep the Lightning connector? Take our Twitter poll below and give us your thoughts down in the comments section!
Should Apple ditch the Lightning port in favor of USB-C on next iPhone?
— Cult of Mac (@cultofmac) February 28, 2017
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
5 responses to “Should Apple swap Lightning for USB-C with iPhone 8? [Poll]”
…and the whole world will go up in a mushroomcloud… again ….
– What, No SCSI ?
– what, removed ADB?
– 30-pin will go away?
– No headphonejack???
– What No Lightning?
Drama
I’m down for USB-C. Short term inconvenience for long term solidarity for charging across countless electronics.
I had loads of 30-pin accessories (mostly audio equipment, speakers, microphones, etc), but I have almost no dedicated lightning attachments (other than the odd cable here and there). Nothing an adapter or new cable won’t fix. I’d say the advantages of USB-C far outweigh the inconvenience for me. Go for it, Apple.
Given they’ve already gone USB-C on the MacBook, they definitely should on the iPhone and iPad as well – keep the whole lot consistent.