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'iPhone 17 Air' is Step Towards Slimmer iPhones Without USB-C Ports

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Apple considered launching the iPhone 17 Air without a USB-C charging port, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iphone 16e usb c feature
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said that while Apple ultimately decided against making the iPhone 17 Air its first iPhone model without a charging port, the idea is still on the table for future iPhone models.

He said the iPhone 17 Air will "foreshadow a move to slimmer models without charging ports."

"The iPhone 17 Air represents the beginning of a sea change for Apple," he wrote. "Apple executives say that if this new iPhone is successful, the company intends to again attempt to make port-free iPhones and move more of its models to this slimmer approach."

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the first iPhone without a charging port would launch all the way back in 2021, but that did not happen. Apple has shifted from its custom Lightning port to the universal USB-C port on iPhones over the past few years, but the wait for an iPhone without a charging port at all continues.

P.S. Hopefully the iPhone 17 Air will support MagSafe, unlike the iPhone 16e.

Related Roundup: iPhone Air
Tag: Mark Gurman
Buyer's Guide: iPhone Air (Neutral)

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Top Rated Comments

Frankfurt Avatar
Frankfurt
15 months ago
This is a bad idea... how will you charge such a phone while traveling in cars or on an airplane?
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
madeirabhoy
15 months ago

doubt they are going to make a phone they can’t sell in the EU. Common charger directive applies to all mobile phones.
it doesnt, I just checked in case, only if they are capable of wired charging.

From the diretive

15. Can radio equipment that can only be recharged via wireless charging be made available on the market without incorporating the harmonised charging solution?

Yes. Since, such radio equipment cannot be recharged via wired charging, it does not need to incorporate the harmonised (wired) charging solution.

Regarding wireless charging, the Commission will promote the harmonisation of wireless charging in order to avoid future fragmentation of the internal market and any negative effects on consumer and the environment. The Commission will monitor the evolution of all types of wireless charging technologies (not only inductive), particularly market developments, market penetration, market fragmentation, technological performance, interoperability, energy efficiency and charging performance.

As stated in recital 13 of the Common Charger Directive, ‘ the Commission should take action towards promoting and harmonising such solutions to avoid future fragmentation of the internal market’ .
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JohnRckr Avatar
JohnRckr
15 months ago
Will never buy a phone without connector. Stupid idea only Apple seems to be pushing
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
STOCK411
15 months ago
I feel like the pro models will HAVE to have the usb c port.

Especially given its been marketed as something you could film a “movie” with.

That means you would have to upload those large files wirelessly which may not always be possible depending on where you are filming.
(Say shooting a movie somewhere in Africa where cell service is not always the greatest)
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
icanhazapple
15 months ago
No one wants this.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
Jensend
15 months ago

"This is a bad idea, Apple is doomed, Apple is lost....no more cd rom, no more floppy, no more headphone jack"....years fast forward...the industry copy paste and people stoped complaining and they adapt
Part of what made those changes bearable is that you could still use an external drive or an adapter. Removing the last physical port removes that option.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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