Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 15 series today during its annual event, scheduled to start at 8 PM Mecca time, the company is expected to announce the most significant change to iPhones in 11 years, which is the replacement of the Lightning charging port with a USB-C port.
Apple has been using the Lightning port for charging iPhones since 2012 when it was first introduced with the iPhone 5, it was a groundbreaking innovation at the time and set Apple apart from its competitors in the smartphone market.
However, the issue is that competing smartphone companies continued to develop USB ports for charging in their devices, while Apple has not introduced anything new with its Lightning port since 2012.
Therefore, experts anticipate that changing the charging port in the upcoming iPhone 15 will have significant implications for the company and user’s decisions to upgrade their phones. Some polls suggest that this move will also affect Android users.
Will the USB-C port attract Android users to the iPhone 15?
A recent poll conducted by SellCell, a mobile device trading platform, indicated that 44% of Android users who participated in the survey would switch to iPhones this year if the iPhone 15 includes a USB-C port.
Furthermore, 35% of Android users who would be excited to switch to the iPhone 15 if it comes with a USB-C port stated that they would do so because the phones would be compatible with the chargers they already own, eliminating the need to purchase a new charger.
Additionally, 63% of iPhone users stated that the presence of a USB-C port would influence their decision to upgrade to the iPhone 15, they cited the ability to use the same charging cable for all their Apple devices, as well as compatibility with non-Apple devices, as compelling reasons.
SellCell conducted this survey with a sample size of 1,000 iPhone users and over 1,000 Android users in the United States.
As for iPhone users, 37% of them confirmed that they would buy one of the new Apple phones this year because it would allow them to use one charging cable with their iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, additionally, the phones would be compatible with the chargers they use with non-Apple devices.
Why is Apple changing the charging port in its upcoming phones?
Apple is making this move in compliance with the European Union’s decision to standardize the charging port for smartphones, tablets, cameras, and other electronic devices to reduce electronic waste, the deadline for full compliance is set for 2024.
What are the benefits of having a USB-C port in iPhones?
The first devices with USB-C charging ports appeared in 2015, and now, USB-C ports are found in almost all electronic devices, including Android phones, wireless headphones, laptops, cameras, gaming controllers, and even television screens.
However, iPhones have remained distinct in this aspect, therefore, the inclusion of a USB-C port in iPhones will provide users with significant convenience, as it allows everyone to use this universal port for charging and data transfer, regardless of the device.
This means that you can use the same charging cable across multiple devices, you can use the USB-C cable that comes with your MacBook to charge both your iPad and iPhone simultaneously, if your friend or family member has an Android phone, they can finally use the same cable to charge their phone.
Moreover, USB-C ports offer faster charging and data transfer speeds, although this will primarily depend on the standards Apple chooses to adopt, USB-C provides a higher power delivery rate compared to the Lightning port.
While the Lightning port supports a maximum of 2.4 amperes, USB-C can handle currents of up to 5 amperes, making it much better for fast charging and supporting fast-charging standards.
Therefore, high charging speeds are one of the most important advantages of USB-C ports, leading Android phones can offer charging capacities of up to 56 watts, such as the OnePlus 10 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra supports 45-watt charging. The Google Pixel 7 Pro provides 30-watt charging.
In contrast, the maximum available charging capacity for Apple’s iPhones is currently limited to just 20 watts, Apple claims that you can charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max by 50% in 30 minutes if you use a Lightning to USB-C cable with a 20-watt charger or higher.
However, if Apple introduces USB-C ports in the iPhone 15, leaks suggest that the ultra-fast charging speeds will only be available in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
For the standard iPhone 15 models, Apple is expected to offer the USB 2.0 standard, which is the traditional standard used in previous iPhone models with the Lightning port, this standard provides 12-watt charging and data transfer rates of up to 480 megabits per second.
Leaks also suggest that Apple will distinguish the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max with the latest USB 3.2 standard, offering data transfer speeds of up to 40 gigabits per second, along with the feature of ultra-fast charging.
In summary, the adoption of USB-C in iPhones promises enhanced convenience, faster charging, and higher data transfer speeds, potentially making the iPhone 15 a more appealing choice for both iPhone and Android users alike.
This change aligns with the European Union’s decision to standardize charging ports across various electronic devices, aiming to reduce electronic waste, with the deadline for full compliance set for 2024.
