iPad & iPhone User - UK (2020-01)

another, physical connections allow for a level of

diagnostic troubleshooting that you can’t always do

via a wireless connection (especially if the wireless

capabilities are themselves the problem). Even the

Apple TV has a secret Lightning diagnostic port. Plus,

there are still accessories that you just can’t use

without a port – microphones, for example – which

means Apple might need to come up with some way

to accommodate users of those devices.

I definitely think it’s plausible that Apple is currently

experimenting with the idea of an iPhone without

physical ports – heck, these days I rarely plug my phone

into anything but my car charger. But not everything the

company investigates ends up in a shipping product.

Good things come in small packages

The iPhone’s displays have gotten larger and larger

over the past few years, but it may be time that the

The days of the Lightning port on

the iPhone may be numbered

another,physicalconnectionsallowforalevelof

diagnostictroubleshootingthatyoucan’talwaysdo

viaawirelessconnection(especiallyifthewireless

capabilitiesarethemselvestheproblem).Eventhe

AppleTVhasasecretLightningdiagnosticport.Plus,

therearestillaccessoriesthatyoujustcan’tuse

withoutaport–microphones,forexample–which

meansApplemightneedtocomeupwithsomeway

to accommodateusersofthosedevices.

Idefinitelythinkit’splausiblethatAppleiscurrently

experimentingwiththeideaofaniPhonewithout

physicalports–heck,thesedaysIrarelyplugmyphone

intoanythingbutmycarcharger.Butnoteverythingthe

companyinvestigatesendsupinashippingproduct.

Goodthingscomeinsmallpackages

TheiPhone’sdisplayshavegottenlargerandlarger

overthepastfewyears,butitmaybetimethatthe

The days of the Lightning port on
the iPhone may be numbered