As you read this, Apple is undoubtedly hard at work crafting the next iteration of the iPhone.
And while the company’s annual smartphone may not seemingly change much each year, the 2023 model may have one crucial difference.
Due to an EU law passed last year, Apple will have to change the charging port on the bottom of the new iPhone to a USB-C connection.
This is the standard used by the vast majority of phones, tablets and laptops (even Apple’s own iPads and MacBooks) but Apple has always stuck resolutely to its proprietary Lightning port when it comes to the iPhone.
Now a leaked image of the next iPhone – likely known as the iPhone 15 Pro – seems to confirm Apple has made the switch.
The shot of the underside of the phone was posted to Twitter by user @URedditor who captioned it: ‘No imagination or rendering required’.
Of course, this is an unverified image and Apple doesn’t comment on leaks – so it should be taken with a pinch of salt. But, given the mandate passed down by the EU it looks all but unavoidable Apple will have to ditch the Lightning port it’s used since 2012.
‘Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charger every time they purchase a new device, as they will be able to use one single charger for a whole range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices,’ the European Parliament said in October.
‘Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.’
If Apple sticks to its conventional release schedule, the iPhone 15 (and its likely ‘Pro’ variants) will make an appearance in September.
It’s not yet clear what other changes Apple will make to its next phone, but the rumours are flying. Some have suggested Apple will add a deeper curve to the phone’s chassis and transition to a titanium model rather than stainless steel.
There will also be the usual refinements in terms of processing power and battery efficiency.
And, we’ll probably see a brand new colour as well. Roll on September.
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