USB-C Be Gone? Portless iPhone Still in Apple's Sights
Apple's love affair with minimalism and wireless technology has been a defining characteristic of its product philosophy for years. Now, despite recently transitioning iPhones from Lightning to USB-C, Apple is reportedly still pursuing the holy grail of smartphone design: a completely portless iPhone.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple seriously considered making the upcoming iPhone 17 Air its first port-free device, eliminating the USB-C connector entirely in favor of wireless charging and cloud-based data syncing.
The idea isn't without precedent. Apple has methodically eliminated ports across its product lineup over the years – from removing the headphone jack on iPhone 7 in 2016 to launching the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook in 2015 with just a single USB-C port. The Apple Watch has relied exclusively on wireless charging since its debut, proving that Apple users can adapt to life without cables.
However, Apple ultimately decided against the portless design for the iPhone 17 Air. The primary roadblock appears to be regulatory concerns: the European Union mandated the iPhone's switch to USB-C and continues to scrutinize Apple's business practices. Removing the USB-C port so soon after being forced to adopt it would likely trigger unwanted regulatory attention.
Despite this, Apple hasn't abandoned its wireless ambitions. According to Gurman's report, if the iPhone 17 Air proves successful with its slimmer approach, Apple "intends to again attempt to make port-free iPhones" and potentially roll out the design philosophy across more models.
A few years ago, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expected a portless iPhone as early as 2021. While that timeline proved optimistic, Apple's underlying vision of a completely wireless device experience appears unchanged – just temporarily delayed.
Popular Stories
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors.
According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices.
Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac:
Model
Starting Price
Model
Starting Price
Change
iPhone 16
$799
iPhone 17
...
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023.
By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface.
The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas.
Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial
The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall.
At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Air will have a $1,099 starting price providing 256GB of base storage and will max out at $1,499 with a 1TB option, according to the latest TrendForce report.
Apple will offer three price/storage tiers for the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model, which replaces last year's iPhone 16 Plus in the lineup. Here's how TrendForce sees them breaking down:
256GB — $1099...
