I had high hopes that the iPhone 12 would move to a universal port that's already everywhere. Instead, one proprietary format is exchanged for another. The iPhone 12 didn't get USB-C Apple's event last week. (That's how it works Pre-order and buy all four Apple 12 models.) Instead, Lightning was kept and a new one was added MagSafe connection.
I was impressed with MagSafe on the iPhone 12 Pro so far. But I'm also starting to accept that USB-C will never happen on iPhone. And the two shouldn't be mutually exclusive.
Blitz has been around since then iPhone 5 in 2012 when it debuted as a replacement for the old 30-pin charger that has been around since the iPod. Lightning had its advantages for the past decade: it was small and enabled faster data transfer. But we've lived in the USB-C era for years. The flash feels old in comparison.
Apple's new MagSafe charging connector appears to be an improvement on standard Qi wireless charging, adding a magnetic handshake similar to that of the Apple Watch Fees. Loading could be more reliable. But you also need a completely new charging cable and that MagSafe Compatible iPhone Cases go with them.
But why is there still a Lightning port? Why not be brave and switch to USB-C?
Apple's iPad lineup has already begun migrating to USB-C: the iPad Pro first, now the iPad Air this year. MacBooks have all switched to USB-C / Thunderbolt 3. I can charge one iPad Pro, Macbook Pro, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia Controller and Oculus Quest 2 everything from common charging cables. And then Lightning for the rest.
Lightning is an odd legacy port now, and it's even stranger that Apple is packing a USB-C to Lightning charging cable into the iPhone 12 box. You can find or buy a charging brick that is USB-C that you plug your Lightning cable into. It's like a joke. Seriously, why not just switch to USB-C entirely?
And now that Apple doesn't have a charging brick in the box and the USB-C cable won't fit your older iPhone and iPad power adapters, chances are a lot of people just end up buying a MagSafe charger and a new case with it your iPhone 12?
Right now there is a power strip on my desk at home with all the stones and cords I need to charge all of my random devices. I see a lot of portable chargers, but for everything else, almost all of it is USB-C. Everything except the iPhone and the few other Apple devices that still use Lightning.
I hate dongles. And I like proprietary charging cables even more. At least one could have been eliminated on future iPhones. I could add another one instead.
I don't think I need to explain why USB-C should be on the iPhone. Because all other phones are using it. Because half of Apple's devices are more or less working? Plus, it would allow a more seamless flow of accessories and dongles for the iPhone and iPad Pro and other products I use. Sure, I can do a lot of these things with Lightning and a dongle: I could output to a TV with HDMI or use a microSD card to read camera data. Still, USB-C would be much nicer.
Sure, you might have all of those Lightning accessories that you might need to replace. Who cares? Unlike the 30-pin Lightning evolution that used two waves of proprietary connectors and accessories, USB-C skips all of this. And again, here's the good news: Apple has already taken the move. Or made the move partially.
So the iPhone 12 did not receive a USB-C. Now I wonder if it will ever even matter. Seriously, Apple, don't skip it. Don't go portless and merge the whole thing a portable disk As everyone expects, MagSafe is used as the only charging method. No Please. If the iPhone is an everyday computer, it would be extremely helpful to have an everyday connection too - a small one that is already well used and accepted.
