Patrick Holland / CNET
Ports have been an integral part of cell phones since their inception - from the iPhone 12 to "dumbphones" from decades ago. But even when it comes to ports, Apple has done things its own way. In 2012, the company made its own accessories obsolete when it switched from a 30-pin connector to a proprietary lighting connector, even though USB-C is widely accepted as a universal connector. (However, there are Lightning cables that use a USB-C on the non-business side)
But if the rumors of the longtime industry are to be believed, Apple plans to kill that last remaining port on the iPhone to make way for a completely portless phone. One of the latest signs that we're getting closer to this portless life is Apple's launch of MagSafe on iPhone.
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The wireless charging system is based on an embedded series of magnets that snap the iPhone 12 onto a MagSafe puck. To charge your iPhone 12, place it on the circular charging pad and wait for the charging indicator on the screen to confirm that it is working. This eliminates the need for a Lightning connector, and while Apple kept the iPhone 12 hooked up, the wall adapter and wired headphones have been removed from the box.
With the addition of MagSafe, a wireless future for iPhone seems inevitable. It offers a glimpse into Apple's vision of where an iPhone wireless accessory ecosystem is made possible by magnets, not connectors.
"Wireless technologies have reached a level of maturity where a portable device is far more profitable than ever," said Gartner's Tuong Huy Nguyen, Gartner senior principal analyst.
Some Chinese phone manufacturers have also beaten Apple by launching their own portable phones. And emerging technologies like VR headsets and smart glasses are also wireless. Whether or not Apple will ultimately go down this path remains to be seen, but there are many reasons why it is time for Apple to finally introduce a portable iPhone.
Apple does more things wirelessly
Ports are a convenient way for phones to provide three key functions: charging, data transfer, and audio output. Before adding MagSafe to their phones, Apple developed AirDrop and iCloud for data transfer. With the introduction of the first generation Airpods in 2016, Apple took the mainstream trend of wireless earbuds seriously.
MagSafe is the wireless bridge to wired accessories
MagSafe is Apple's answer to wireless charging of the iPhone 12. However, in order to convince more people to live without a Lightning connector, Apple has to offer a wireless bridge for other wired accessories. MagSafe seems to serve that very purpose, opening up possibilities for a whole new world of iPhone attachments that snap into place magnetically.
These accessories can include game controllers, camera grips, selfie sticks and wireless batteries that can change the way we hold or interact with an iPhone, according to Roger Cheng, executive editor at CNET.
Some of the official MagSafe accessories we've seen before include Belkin's Autodock and a combo iPhone / Apple Watch charger. The switch to MagSafe also suggests that iPhones will likely not get USB-C.
Apple is constantly improving wireless charging
After holding out for years, Apple turned to wireless technology in 2018 when it added support to its Q8-based wireless inductive charging standard on the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. Apple initially limited the power to just 5 watts, but later increased it to 7.5 watts via a software update. This was an indication that Apple was viewing wireless charging as a necessary feature rather than a specialty.
There is also talk of a new wireless charging pad to replace in the works Air force, which was ultimately canceled before it had a chance to hit the market. Instead of charging multiple devices at the same time as AirPower promised, this Qi pad would likely charge one device at a time.
According to Apple, MagSafe now works even faster than Qi chargers. The charger now offers double the power at 15 watts, which could equate it to the fast charging technology Android phones have long enjoyed. Although Apple has some catching up to do compared to Chinese competitors such as Xiaomi and Oppo, the industry is on the advance as a whole.
For many years, wireless chargers have been painfully slow compared to their wired counterparts, and in some cases last almost twice as long. But this gap is getting smaller. Earlier this year, Oppo launched a 65W wireless charger called AirVOOC, which can fully charge a battery in 30 minutes. Xiaomi is currently working on an 80W charger that promises to fully charge a 4,000mAh battery in less than 20 minutes.
Apple has turned off standard one-off features and will likely do so again
Apple is not overwhelmed by ditching popular product features, even if people yearn for them years after their death. For example, Apple killed the DVD drive in its Macs and said goodbye to the headphone jack in 2016 by removing it from the iPhone 7. Long-time Apple executive Phill Schiller said it was "brave" to position it as an innovative departure from obsolete technology. "It makes no sense to tie us to our mobile devices with cables," said Schiller when Apple presented the AirPods at the same event.
Though many refused to move, other phone manufacturers followed Apple's lead. Samsung, OnePlus Google, and others shortly thereafter removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from their flagships and left a USB-C port in its place.
Apple still sells tens of millions of iPhones and AirPods each year, proving that many people are ready to adjust to its newer technology.
"A smartphone is a device with limited space for all of its components, but it will also be important that smartphone manufacturers provide better or more functionality in order to remain competitive," said IDC Asia Pacific research manager Will Wong. "So a portable phone is likely to be an inevitable trend."
With a portable iPhone, Apple can better distinguish between models
Apple analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo predicts that Apple will launch a flagship portless iPhone by 2021. Kuo reported that a mobile phone will create "more differentiation" between top-tier iPhones and basic-model iPhones. According to the iPhone 12 naming standards, that would mean the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are specifically portless.
"We expect the high-end model to break that off [Lightning] port and offer the fully wireless experience, "wrote Kuo in a 2019 report.
A stronger distinction between models could make it easier for Apple to get higher prices for its fancier iPhones. These would be aimed at people with larger budgets and make sure they are on the cutting edge of Apple technology.
Apple wouldn't be the first to experiment with a portable phone
Apple isn't usually the first to embrace mobile phone trends. It wasn't the first time phones with 5G or wireless charging hit the market, and we haven't seen a foldable device from it yet. So it's no wonder that portable phones already exist. Chinese phone maker Vivo last year launched a portless and buttonless Apex concept phone that relies on a magnetic clip that plugs behind the phone for charging. It also has virtual pressure sensor buttons instead of physical buttons, but it is not yet mass marketed.
No connections would mean more durability
Whenever Apple closes a port, a chorus of criticism of forced obsolescence follows. Some iPhone users feel that Apple is robbing them of perfectly fine input points.
Aside from allegations of forced obsolescence, sealing ports could also increase the durability of iPhones. The logic is as follows: no ports mean fewer seams, and therefore fewer chances of dust and water getting into the phone. This also means less susceptibility to cracks.
Apple has equipped its iPhones with features designed to improve durability. This year, the company put the emphasis on the ceramic screen in its new iPhone 12 models. In 2016, the water resistance of iPhones was also introduced.
