Twitter user @laobaiTD, aka Mr-white, posted images late Wednesday of what he claims is the braided Lightning cable that will come with iPhone 12.
At present, the Mac Pro is the only Apple product to come with a more-durable braided cable, which also provides a premium look. Check out the images of the alleged iPhone 12 cable below.
https://twitter.com/laobaiTD/status/1309018216736399362
This is the second time we’ve heard about the possibility of braided cables for the new iPhone. This summer, Apple leaker L0vetodream made a similar prediction.
Personally, if Apple improves the quality of its iPhone cables, I’ll be a happy customer. I’ve long found Apple’s cables the least-premium component of the company’s products. Granted, they suffer more wear and tear than most accessories, but I perpetually run into problems with fraying cables, despite the fact that I take pains to treat them gently.
On the downside, premium cables could be a trade-off for what’s missing in the new iPhone box. According to reliable TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new iPhone will not come with a charger or EarPods in its box.
This would mark the first time in Apple history for such omissions. Not including these accessories would make the iPhone cheaper to ship for Apple, while also helping it absorb the cost of pricier components without needing to raise prices too much. It also could boost AirPods sales, pushing customers to buy them who normally would stick to Apple’s regular EarPods.
Am I alone in my issues with charging cables? Would you take a better Lightning cable over EarPods and a charger? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
