Analyst says all 2017 iPhones to feature Lightning ports and fast charging

by Michael Heller / Mar 02, 2017, 9:14 AM

Analyst says all 2017 iPhones to feature Lightning ports and fast charging

There has been a bit of confusion going around as to whether or not the new iPhones released this year will feature Lightning ports or not. First, there was an oddly-worded WSJ story that seemed to indicate that Apple was switching to USB-C (although we're not totally convinced about that), but now a respected analyst is claiming the Lightning port is staying but with a new trick.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities isn't always right in his predictions about Apple, but he's right often enough to be taken seriously when speaking. Kuo claims (as we guessed) that rather than changing the charging port on the iPhone itself, Apple would be modifying the charging cable included with the phone. So, the iPhone will still feature a Lightning port, but the other end of the cable will be USB-C and the cable will take advantage of the faster charging spec available by using USB-C.

Kuo said all of the new iPhones released in 2017 will feature "Type-C Power Delivery" technology as well as adopt power management from Texas Instruments and power delivery chips from Cypress. Additionally, the flagship iPhone 8 could offer even faster charging by using a new "2-cell L-shaped battery pack design."

One strange bit from Kuo was that he seemed to indicate that although Apple would take advantage of the faster power delivery spec of USB-C, it may not be able to get the data transmission speed upgrade if the iPhone itself still has a Lightning jack. Kuo said this might not be a priority for Apple because transferring files via a cable is a "niche application" these days as most people sync data through the cloud.

source: AppleInsider

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23 Comments

1. notfair

Posts: 711; Member since: Jan 30, 2017

"Analyst" I mean, who pays them? Everyone can speculate...

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:24 AM 9

10. llk171

Posts: 95; Member since: Mar 31, 2013

Yep, I speculate the iphone 8 will be faster than the 7.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:44 AM 4

15. sgodsell

Posts: 7029; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

What kills me is there is no comparison between Apples lightning vs USB-C. Lightning connectors have only 8 pins verses USB-C's 24 pins. USB-C can support multiple sources of power on the same cable and is bi-directional, whereas lightning is not. USB-C supports a much higher current than lightning ports and connectors. USB-C has a much higher transmission rate (thunderbolt 3 - 40 gigabits).

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 10:28 AM 2

18. vincelongman

Posts: 5653; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Yep, there are many legit reasons for Apple to switch to USB-C But knowing Apple they won't Lightning helps keep people locked in their ecosystem That's more important to Apple than giving people faster transfer rates, faster charging rates, alternative modes, ...

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 11:44 AM 2

2. aman5mathur

Posts: 241; Member since: Mar 28, 2014

Got my popcorn tub already. Lol Just waiting to see who starts first (You all know what im talking about!)

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:27 AM 3

3. Arch_Fiend

Posts: 3948; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

At least this is believable, unlike that rumor that Apple was going to switching to usb-c. Fast charging has been a long time coming to iPhones just like oled displays so Apple might as well do both this year.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:35 AM 4

4. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

With the failure design of S8, iPhone will have no competitor.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:38 AM 1

6. aman5mathur

The sale numbers will prove otherwise

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:39 AM 4

19. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

We're talking flagships only(S series and Note).

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 11:48 AM 0

7. Mreveryphone

Posts: 1806; Member since: Apr 22, 2014

Wait until it's released and the sales reports come back... Then make that statement... Or not...

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:41 AM 5

8. aman5mathur

Sure friend

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:42 AM 0

13. Mreveryphone

I was responding to cnour' #4 post...

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:51 AM 3

5. Mreveryphone

The lighting port is all about money period... As long as Apple can continue to tell people that syncing with the cloud is better than a hardwire transfer and have people believe it then that's what they'll do. We all know a hardwired connection is always better. Look what they did with beats... Now if you loose that lighting cable you have to go and purchase a new one from them...

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:39 AM 5

11. llk171

Cloud is better than hardwire. Hardwire is a joke and certainly was for any Samsung that I have owned.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:45 AM 1

12. Mreveryphone

Hardwired will always be the best connection... Yes cloud syncing has gotten better but anyone knows the best connection is a wired one...

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:49 AM 4

14. Macready

Posts: 1813; Member since: Dec 08, 2014

Uh.. until you enter the real world, where data is limited and costs money and data speeds vary wildly, if even reliable in more remote areas. Data links always work, even when Wifi or data doesn't.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 10:23 AM 1

17. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Yes IIK171 its so bad to be able to drag and drop my music in my phone as a usb key having it hardwire to my pc. Its so much better to have to use cr4pple itunes right? lol

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 11:36 AM 0

16. marorun

lol cloud sync even with best internet speed is still WAY slower than with a cable. End of the story.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 11:35 AM 1

9. SleeperOne

Posts: 370; Member since: Feb 25, 2017

In other words we're out of 'interesting things' to speculate.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 9:43 AM 2

20. mikehunta727 unregistered

About time Apple lmao. It better be at least on par with QC 3.0 the minimum

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 12:44 PM 0

21. jphiller87

Posts: 92; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

2017 not bad apple, phones have only had quick charging since 2012 only 5 years behind but i'm sure they'll market it as something new and innovative because it's easy to sell to iSheep.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 1:02 PM 0

22. darkkjedii

Posts: 30900; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Just get my iPhone 8 Plus into my hands. Hurry up September.

posted on Mar 02, 2017, 2:12 PM 0

23. UglyFrank

Posts: 2191; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

As long as they improve the durability of the cable it will be fine. I remember when I had my iPad, I thought the cable was fine at first, didn't believe the durability stories but then slowly the wire casing began to rise and one day it just stopped working. (switched to Anker after that). Even with the gains of USB-C it wouldn't make sense to switch one year after they just released lightning headphones.