APPLE IN 2020the product that defines Apple, meaning speculation
remains at peak levels. And all the smartwatches,
streaming services, and fancy wireless headphones
aren’t going to be changing that calculus anytime soon.
Certainly the next iPhone is still a way off, but it’s
worth taking a moment to look at this latest round of
rumours and think critically about what they might
portend – even if they don’t end up coming true.No port in a storm
Let’s start with the latest titbit to dribble out: that the
2021 iPhone – not this year’s – will lack any sort of
physical port whatsoever, relying instead on wireless
connectivity for both data transfer and charging.
On the face of it, this idea hardly seems difficult
to believe: the company’s long been on a mission
to reduce and, where possible, eliminate ports. The
iPhone 7 did away with the headphone jack. The
2015 MacBook had only a single USB-C port for
power and connectivity.
With the inclusion of wireless charging in more
recent iPhones, it’s certainly not impossible that Apple
is heading in this direction. Removing the data port
frees up more space on the interior of the phone, which
potentially means more battery life, and removing it
on the outside opens up the possibility for – an Apple
favourite – a thinner phone. Not to mention that it’s
one less thing you have to water- and dust-proof.
All of that said, part of me remains sceptical. For
one thing, wireless charging isn’t yet as omnipresent
as physical plugs. It would be all too possible to
get stuck somewhere with no ability to charge. ForAPPLE IN 2020
theproductthatdefinesApple,meaningspeculation
remainsatpeaklevels.Andallthesmartwatches,
streamingservices,andfancywirelessheadphones
aren’tgoingtobechangingthatcalculusanytimesoon.
CertainlythenextiPhoneisstillawayoff,butit’s
worthtakingamomenttolookatthislatestroundof
rumoursandthinkcriticallyaboutwhattheymight
portend–eveniftheydon’tendupcomingtrue.Noportina storm
Let’sstartwiththelatesttitbittodribbleout:thatthe
2021 iPhone–notthisyear’s–willlackanysortof
physicalportwhatsoever,relyinginsteadonwireless
connectivityforbothdatatransferandcharging.
Onthefaceofit,thisideahardlyseemsdifficult
tobelieve:thecompany’slongbeenonamission
toreduceand,wherepossible,eliminateports.The
iPhone 7 didawaywiththeheadphonejack.The
2015 MacBookhadonlyasingleUSB-Cportfor
powerandconnectivity.
Withtheinclusionofwirelesscharginginmore
recentiPhones,it’scertainlynotimpossiblethatApple
isheadinginthisdirection.Removingthedataport
freesupmorespaceontheinteriorofthephone,which
potentiallymeansmorebatterylife,andremovingit
ontheoutsideopensupthepossibilityfor–anApple
favourite–athinnerphone.Nottomentionthatit’s
one lessthingyouhavetowater-anddust-proof.
Allofthatsaid,partofmeremainssceptical.For
onething,wirelesschargingisn’tyetasomnipresent
asphysicalplugs.Itwouldbealltoopossibleto
getstucksomewherewithnoabilitytocharge.For