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Why a Portless iPhone is a Bad Idea

By iPad Pete 19 Comments

Apple may be considering the removal of wired charging ports, also known as Lightning ports, from future iPhone models, according to unconfirmed reports. This change is technically possible, as wireless charging has been available for the iPhone since the introduction of the iPhone 8 in 2017.

However, relying on wireless charging exclusively would be a very bad idea. While a portless iPhone does have its advantages, there are significant drawbacks.

The latest speculation that Apple is discussing such a move comes from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg News, who has an excellent track record for obtaining insider information from Apple. Gurman initially reported on this possibility on January 15, 2021, in a post on Touch ID.

Advantages

The most obvious advantage of a portless iPhone is that it would further improve the iPhone’s water resistance, which is already robust. However, many users don’t realize they need to dry out the charging port when it gets water in it to prevent the contacts from rusting.

Furthermore, the need to plug a connector into and out of the port qualifies it as a moving part, which is often one of the first parts to wear out on an iPhone.

Users can also do just about everything they need to without physically connecting iPhones to another device. For example, they can back up and restore data from iCloud in addition to receiving wireless updates.

Disadvantages

Despite the fact that an iPhone can theoretically do without a port, it’s still an essential feature in practice.

For example, the standard fix for a serious problem with an iPhone is to connect it to a Mac or PC and place it into recovery mode.

This is a rare occurrence, but it can happen when an update to the iPhone’s operating system goes wrong.

A portless iPhone in need of a system recovery could only be fixed at an authorized repair center, turning a relatively minor inconvenience into a major hassle.

Another disadvantage of a portless iPhone is that wireless charging will be significantly slower than wired charging for the foreseeable future.

The total cost of owning a portless iPhone will be greater because users will need at least one MagSafe charger, which Apple will probably include with an iPhone. Portless iPhones will also be unable to use wired accessories like headsets, USB drives, and TV adapters, which are highly popular among iPhone users.

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Filed Under: Tech News

Comments

  1. Allan Weber says

    at

    If Apple went to this it might force me to consider going back to an android phone. It would be a big inconvenience for charging in a vehicle while traveling.

    Reply
  2. Peggy Magyar says

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    Sounds like a step backward instead of forward to me.

    Reply
  3. Nancy says

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    Agree it is a bad idea. I need the port to plug in my Dario Glucose tester several times a day. I think there are other blood testing companies that also use the ports for testing & recording results to send to my endocrinologist .

    Reply
  4. Juanna says

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    Bad idea. May cause people to leave Apple and go to another.

    Reply
  5. Sandra D. Scaglione says

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    I’m 80 years old. I know nothing about the Cloud. I back up my iPhone with my computer. This change would be a real pain!

    Reply
  6. Donna Ward says

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    I personally have a wireless
    Charger, and it was great at first, but now is NOTA working!
    I think it’s a DUMB Audra to get rid of the lightning cable totally, and I would
    Not
    Be anxious to buy a phone without the cable, even IF it came with wireless Charger.

    Reply
  7. Bernie Pupino says

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    With a port I connect my Hub to project on a White board, HDMI to a larger screen etc., why don’t they port like a Mac Book with a direct magnetic connection?

    Reply
  8. Mike Schuttler says

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    Would it still be able to use portable power like solar chargers or pocket power chargers?

    Reply
  9. Carol LeGray says

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    There are places where wired chargers are needed, when traveling, in airports, etc. Wireless chargers are more bulky and slower. Bad idea!

    Reply
    • Diane Clemmons says

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      I keep my phone in a protective case which doesn’t allow for wireless charging.
      I cracked the back of my phone getting it out of the case. I hope this will become an option.

      Reply
  10. Lisa Walters says

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    Bad idea Apple!!!

    Reply
  11. P Schiml says

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    How will Apple CarPlay work without being able to plug in the iPhone to gain access to Maps, music, texts, etc?

    Reply
  12. Dave Holmack says

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    I have my iphone 12 in an otterbox case. It won’t charge wirelessly while in the case. It’d be a pain to remove the phone from the case everytime it needed charging.

    Reply
  13. Brian P. Pellicano says

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    WOW! What a deplorable idea! Enough to send Apple lovers to some other company with cheaper prices and charge cables.

    Reply
  14. SusanZ says

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    Not a great idea for a car charging!

    Reply
  15. Carol Matney says

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    If your battery is totally drained your phone is down and out for sometime. At least using a wired charger you still can use your phone.

    Reply
  16. MarkS says

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    Forcing users to backup photos, videos and such to iCloud will only make Apple more money by requiring increased monthly prices for data space. Though it may save production cost and improve water resistance, it is NOT a “USER-friendly” decision!

    Reply
  17. Sheron says

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    Terrible idea, Apple! I have been using iPhones for many years and I don’t want to change; but, if Apple does that, I will have no choice.

    Reply
  18. Ninah says

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    I love Apple, but if my phone goes out, so does my business. I have to agree with those above. I’d have to move over to Android.

    Reply

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