Apple made the switch to its Lightning connector with the iPhone 5 in 2012, and every model since then has used that cable. A new report says that Apple could soon begin to ditch the connector that it's been relying on for seven years.
Apple is reportedly planning to launch an iPhone in 2021 that will not have a Lightning connector. That's according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has been a source of Apple leaks in the past. A chart shared by Kuo (via 9to5Mac) suggests that Apple will launch a 2021 iPhone that's described as the "highest-end model without Lightning".
Without a Lightning port, this new iPhone would reportedly be completely wireless, meaning that users will rely on wireless charging rather than Apple switching to USB-C.
Apple moving away from Lightning would be a huge deal because it's a proprietary connector that many iPhone owners have gotten used to using, but lots of folks have been hoping that Apple would move to USB-C like most other smartphone makers are in the process of doing. Relying completely on wireless charging could help Apple to make the iPhone more water resistant and make more room inside the phone, but some folks could be frustrated about having to rely on wireless charging because it's not quite as widespread or as easy to transport as regular cables.
Kuo also believes that Apple will launch an iPhone SE 2 Plus model in 2021 that'll have a 5.5 or 6.1-inch screen with edge-to-edge design. It's said that this phone won't have Face ID, though, and will instead have a Touch ID fingerprint reader built into its side.
Today's report says that we can expect to see five new iPhone models in 2020. Four models will reportedly have OLED screens that'll come in 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch sizes. The 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch models will allegedly have 5G and dual rear camera setups while there will also be 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch devices with triple rear cameras — including a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor to help gather depth information — and 5G support.
The design of thes 2020 iPhone models with OLED screens is said to be "similar to the iPhone 4".
Finally, Kuo suggests that Apple will launch an iPhone SE 2 in the first half of 2020 with a 4.7-inch LCD screen and a form factor similar to the iPhone 8.
