The upcoming iPhone 14 lineup is sure to be a big step forward, and the iPhone 14 Pro will be the flagship device in the lineup.
The Pro is expected to come with powerful cameras, the fastest and most modern processor, and the best display technology, where as the 'base' iPhone 14 model will come with an older processor and probably less capable cameras to save money where users might not need all the high-end specs.
The latest rumor got me thinking, though: According to "anonymous sources" at iDropNews, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will feature the same updated Lightning port that debuted on the original iPad Pro in 2019, which used USB 3.0 technology to provide much faster speeds than the older USB 2.0 port still used by iPhones.
While this is a significant upgrade, it could enable up to 10x faster data transfer, it's still a world away from the speeds that the USB-C ports used in current iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets could deliver.
Apple has stuck with the Lightning port since its launch in 2012, and while European regulations say it will eventually have to start using USB-C ports on its iPhones, there's no specific date for when that will happen and Apple will probably hold out that long. as possible.
Why? Because it makes a lot of money by licensing its technology to allow manufacturers to make Lightning-compatible accessories. It has built an ecosystem of compatibility that any brand would be loath to lose. So with that in mind, an iPhone with the same USB-C connector as the iPad Pro seems highly unlikely.
deep problems
However, this reluctance (if it's true, and it's a big if when we're working with "unnamed fonts") will be a real problem for me if it materializes.
It seems very likely that this year will be the first to see iPhones released with different chipsets (well, I could point to the iPhone 5C, which came with the iPhone 5S, but they were very different phones) and that would be the clearest indication yet of that Apple is trying to differentiate the iPhone 14 Pro from the cheaper model.
That's fine, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense. The iPhone Pro line has been too close in performance and specs to the base models for many years, with only the camera and more RAM providing the main differences.
Making the expensive, high-end phone more powerful and desirable to creatives and those who need more power in their device, especially if it offers capabilities the iPhone 14 can't, will make the Pro a much easier bet for people. like filmmakers. who will want all the power and prowess of the camera to make their job easier.
So if the rumors are true and Apple sticks with the Lightning port, a real trick is missing. The USB-C connection would offer much faster speeds for those who need it for work and would not be a decoy for those who just want a good phone - that is, the masses who will continue to buy Lightning accessories.
Those who need the sporty iPhone 14 Pro USB-C, as the creatives mentioned, would also have the right equipment to take full advantage of the improved speeds, where many others wouldn't really benefit from the higher speeds.
I tested the iPhone 13 Pro Max (with the old Lightning connector) against the new iPad Air 2022, which has USB-C.
The former managed to transfer a 320MB file at 8,25MB/s, while the latter reached 10,5MB/s, both connected to a USB-C port on my laptop.
Not a huge difference (although it will still result in a lot of minutes saved to copy a 4-minute 20K file), but a better rig, with higher-end Macs and better connections, like the ones creatives often invest in, you would see a greater disparity in playback speeds.
Another reason why Apple should emulate the iPad Pro and bring the USB-C connector to the iPhone 14 Pro.
Of course, this won't happen, mainly for the reasons listed above. And it's a shame, because an iPhone 14 Pro with USB-C would have been a real leap forward and made it a really attractive phone for professionals.
Not to mention the ease it would bring to many people's lives. USB-C is becoming a common standard around the world (even for iPads, which many iPhone owners will have) and the loss of the Lightning cable would remove an additional headache for users.