In 2018, Apple moved the iPad Pro’s charging / external communication connector specifications from its own Lightning to USB Type-C. Also, in 2020, the iPad Air, which has abolished the home button, has a Touch ID function on the power button.
From this trend, it is speculated that Apple will unify the specifications of external connectors and cables to USB Type-C and shift to Touch ID with integrated power button in the future not only for iPad but also for iPhone. It’s flowing.
However, Ming-Chi Kuo, who has been familiar with unpublished information about Apple products for many years and is evaluated as having relatively high accuracy, contrary to the expectations of such a market, Apple also has USB Type-C for iPhone. The power button Touch ID also reports that there is no prospect of adoption schedule.
Kuo cites USB Type-C cables as less waterproof than Lightning cables, but loses the revenue of the Made for iPhone (MFi) program from third-party Lightning cables.
He pointed out that there is a problem. “If the iPhone discontinues the Lightning cable in the future, it’s likely that it will support Magsafe (for wireless charging) adopted by the Apple Watch instead of USB Type-C.”
With Magsafe, your iPhone will be even more waterproof by eliminating the terminal openings, and you can continue to earn license revenue by applying the MFi program to MagSafe-enabled chargers.
That said, at this point Apple believes MagSafe isn’t reliable enough to unify the iPhone’s charging scheme, Kuo said, and said it would continue to use the Lightning connector for some time.
On the other hand, when it comes to Touch ID with integrated power buttons, Kuo says Apple won’t have time to do that. For some time now, Apple has been testing Touch ID at the bottom of the screen.
Mr. Kuo also said that the notch width of the iPhone scheduled to be released this year will be reduced, it is expected to be punched in 2022, and an 8-inch foldable iPhone may appear in 2023. Is reporting.
In the Jobs era, both iPhone and iPad had a very simple lineup, but I have the impression that it has become much more complicated in the last few years.
Users only have to get used to their devices, but if, as you might expect, narrow notches, punch holes, and touch ID at the bottom of the screen appear on the folding screen in rapid succession, try to accommodate them.
For developers who do, the burden of processing and operation checks may increase significantly.