Apple Will Reportedly Release An iPhone Without Any Ports In 2021 (9to5mac.com) 91
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says there will be four new OLED iPhone models in 2020, followed by a new iPhone without a Lightning port in 2021. 9to5Mac reports: In 2021, Kuo is predicting a followup to the iPhone SE 2 as well as a new iPhone model without Lightning connectivity. Kuo says that this would "provide the completely wireless experience," meaning there would be no ports at all rather than a switch to USB-C from Lightning. Kuo implies that Apple only plans to remove the Lightning port from the "highest-end model" at first, rather than from the entire iPhone lineup at once. Kuo says The 2021 followup to the iPhone SE 2, which Kuo refers to as the "iPhone SE 2 Plus," will reportedly feature an all-screen design without a Home button. Kuo predicts this device will have a screen size of either 5.5-inches or 6.1-inches. Interestingly, Kuo says the iPhone SE 2 Plus still won't include Face ID authentication. Instead, Apple is reportedly planning to integrate Touch ID into the power button on the side of the device.
As for the 2020 OLED iPhones, here's what Kuo had to say: Kuo predicts that Apple will introduce 5.4-inch, two 6.1-inch, and a 6.7-inch OLED iPhone models in 2020. He says that all four of these iPhones will also feature 5G connectivity. The difference between all of these models, other than screen sizes, will be camera technology. According to Kuo, the 5.4-inch OLED iPhone will feature a dual-camera setup on the back. The lower-end 6.1-inch iPhone will feature a similar dual-camera system. The higher-end 6.1-inch model and the 6.7-inch model will include triple-lens camera setups as well as time-of-flight 3D sensing technology. In terms of design for the 2020 OLED iPhone, Kuo says the form factor will be "similar to the iPhone 4."
The ultimate planned obsolescence device (Score:5, Funny)
It comes with a single battery charge. Once it's depleted, you buy another one.
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Re:The ultimate planned obsolescence device (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, Qi is the only charging option if there's no plug. Too bad induction charging is stupid: most of the power is wasted heating up the metallic bits in the device it's supposed to charge up.
Then again, Apple isn't exactly known for making eco-friendly products, so that fits...
Re:The ultimate planned obsolescence device (Score:5, Insightful)
And how well will that work for on the go charging with power packs or any other kind of USB power source? Or really, 90% of the places people want to charge their phones -- planes, cars, computers, etc.
I don't doubt Apple would want to get rid of the port, but it seems like a much worse handicap than the headphone port removal. At least that had an adapter and bluetooth adapters and headphones were reasonably cheap and plentiful.
But the charging port? There's very few Qi charging options away from your own charging mat, plus the phone has to be in contact with it continuously. The only solution I can think of is some kind of snap on/magnet on Qi attachment, but it sounds bulky and awkward. I don't know how thin they can make Qi mats, my cheapie from Amazon is like 1/4" thick. If they could make it (a lot) thinner, maybe it would work.
CarPlay mostly only works with a cabled connection; a handful of models can do it wirelessly, but it requires 5 Ghz wifi in the head unit to accommodate it because it's mostly just a video stream from the phone, so it needs high bandwidth. Most cars (like my 2019 Subaru Ascent) only support it via cable.
I don't see much of a workaround for the data side of the port besides an expensive and power hungry wifi-to-USB bridge device.
This seems so impractical that even Apple wouldn't do it for aesthetics.
Re: The ultimate planned obsolescence device (Score:3)
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It's going to be hard to compete with 18W charging over USB. You can carry a little charger in your pocket and plug in for 15 minutes at the cafe to get 40% charge back. Or get a mobile battery with 18W charging support.
The best wireless chargers are 10W but less efficient. Maybe half as fast. Not terrible, not great.
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Yes, Qi is the only charging option if there's no plug. Too bad induction charging is stupid: most of the power is wasted heating up the metallic bits in the device it's supposed to charge up.
Then again, Apple isn't exactly known for making eco-friendly products, so that fits...
Qi charging takes place at a fairly high frequency and close (typically 5 mm) distances. So it isn't quite as stupid as it would seem at first. Typical efficiencies are 60-80%, which is about 10-15% less efficient than the main power transformers in most AC line-powered equipment; but those transformers are constructed with everything optimized for maximum efficiency, rather than some random device ("secondary") placed in some random placement and orientation on the Pad ("Primary"). So, all in all, it isn't
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Fortunately your claim is wrong.
Unfortunately it is only about 85% efficient.
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Inductive charging has been getting more efficient, with some phones now able to pull 10W without getting too warm. For reference the fastest wired charging is 18W.
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What about something like the Apple Smart Connector?
https://9to5mac.com/wp-content... [9to5mac.com]
Do you you consider that a port? I don't really know if that would be classified as a port by everyone since its pretty much flush.
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Qi? Or more likely, a new protocol that's incompatible.
Apple devices (at least iPhones, Earpods and Watches have Qi charging compatibility for that last several years, IIRC.
In fact, clear back to the iPhone 8, all AirPods and Watches back to the Series 1:
https://www.mobilefun.co.uk/bl... [mobilefun.co.uk]
(Other iPhones, back to the iPhone 5s, can Qi charge with a Lightning to Qi adapter (but that's kind of cheating, IMHO)).
Apple even sells several aftermarket Qi charger gadgets in its Online Store. This Page also has a Device Compatibility List (on the left) :
https://www.apple.c [apple.com]
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It comes with a single battery charge. Once it's depleted, you buy another one.
And it only costs $999
Good (Score:3)
Good, that still means no idiotic "notch" in the display.
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Oh, no, there will still be a notch. :-)
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If there was ever a first world problem, this is it.
I agree.
I have one of these magnet mount kits that clip on to the HVAC louvers on the dash, which has a matching thin metal plate that fits under the rubber protective case on my iPhone. I plug in the Lightning cable to my radio then stick the phone to my dash. I can see the map for GPS navigation at a glance, and the screen is in easy reach for a quick tap to answer a phone call. I don't recall how much the magnet mount kit cost but it had to be less than $50. It keeps the phone in a vertical orientati
Re: Good (Score:2)
Those are awesome except they block wireless charging.
Which may a problem for a phone with no ports.
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GPS displays are dangerous and dumb too?
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For an extra $450 you can get (Score:4, Funny)
For an extra $450, they'll sell you one without a screen. Because "courage".
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But but how will I post duckface selfies with my friends
You borrow their phone.
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Notches are very 2017. Modern phones have some other way of deploying a front facing camera, such as a pop-up one. I'd also take a rear selfie screen or a small forehead.
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Android is a big enough field that not everyone imitates the worst parts of Apple while ignoring the best parts of Apple. Is what I'd say if Android phones weren't universally abandoned after 24 months worth of software updates, with said updates being spaced apart by at least four months.
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It is more of a matter of time until they copy Apple. Once a model starts to drop in sales that feature will be dropped for what is more popular.
My real hope is more innovation in android phones where they lead in design elements more than Apple where Apple has to play catch-up. Some of this is happening. But in terms of ports probably not.
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s what I'd say if Android phones weren't universally abandoned after 24 months worth of software updates, with said updates being spaced apart by at least four months.
The short update period is a real problem, but my Moto X4 has got security updates every month. And after that I'll unlock the bootloader and load lineage OS, and then it will continue to get OTAs on a regular basis. I put an unofficial lineage build on my Nexus 7, and I'm now getting OTAs daily. Sadly, it needs 'em, because it's having power consumption problems. The battery died while it was on the charger. I have to change the scaling governor and enable fast charge manually, and I must have failed to do
They will drop the camera too (Score:2)
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Since nobody has done a "look through" camera
Except, you know, Xiaomi: https://www.cnet.com/news/xiao... [cnet.com]
Hey guys (Score:5, Insightful)
We heard you like to sometimes plug in your phone to transfer files or charge it, so we took that capability away! WE'RE INNOVATORS GODDAMNIT!
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wireless usb-c dock $99.99
Re:Hey guys (Score:5, Interesting)
Unless that wireless charging works while using the phone and moving it around, so basically unless the phone charges faster than it uses power playing a game ANYWHERE within a 10ft radius of the charger, wireless charging doesn't solve the problem. My kids use their iPhones "tethered" on a 10ft wire all the time, when their phones are running out of juice at the end of the day, and yes they have wireless chargers on their desks but they don't want to be tied to a desk while the phone has to be on the charger in order to use it.
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Everyone I know uses cases 1mm this or less, show me a Qi charger that can fit in a 1mm rubber sheet wrapped around the phone. Friends and family tried the Lilfeproof cases and my wife even had a battery case once for her iPhone, but shifted to thin rubbery wrapper cases quickly. Charging cases would be clunky and heavy, like battery cases today - very few people use those today, because they make the phone a couple of mm thicker and heavier (even though I bet everyone would like the extra battery life).
Of
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Next there we be one without a screen (Score:4, Funny)
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Rotary dial too please
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Does that not count as a "port"?
The SIM card slot is not a "port". Chances are that there will not be a SIM card slot given the trends for removing those as well.
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Maybe it will then be e-SIM only. Currently telcos are catching up to the e-SIM functionality so in two years it might be wide enough for Apple to be "courageous" and drop support for normal SIMs...
Kuo is predicting... (Score:3, Insightful)
In other words, some random person not from Apple is making shit up.
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Kuo is not a "random person" though: he has a significant track record of accurate predictions about Apple products. He might not be always 100 correct, but he has proven to be quite reliable.
https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ming-chi-kuo/
How to flash fimware? (Score:1)
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How can this be done without a data port on the body?
It could be done with magnet switches, and bluetooth. The Bendix ABS computer on our 1999 Blue Bird Q-Bus resets with a magnet, I did it with my telescoping pickup magnet as it's underneath the bus (just forward of the rear axle.) There's no reason you couldn't make the phone require a magnet at each end or something to put it into recovery mode.
Re: How to flash fimware? (Score:1)
Yea, that's likely to happen.
No ports at least makes sense (Score:1)
One port and no headphone jack still leaves a hole in the phone. But no ports means it's easier to seal up, and has no ports to fail. I still wouldn't buy one, but I can see why someone would.
Re:No ports at least makes sense (Score:4, Insightful)
Are we seeing a lot of failures from phones because they have headphone jacks and lightning ports? Seems pretty trivial to make them water resistant, it's not like most of us need a 10 ATM water proof phone. It only need to be water proof for the depth of a toilet bowl and for the amount of time it takes for us to say a few curse words before fishing it out.
Is it creative and innovative to design something that everyone jokingly predicted years in advance?
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Are we seeing a lot of failures from phones because they have headphone jacks and lightning ports?
No, but if you can eliminate the jacks (saving money) and eliminate the few failures (saving more money) then those are good reasons for a manufacturer to want to do it.
Seems pretty trivial to make them water resistant, it's not like most of us need a 10 ATM water proof phone. It only need to be water proof for the depth of a toilet bowl and for the amount of time it takes for us to say a few curse words before fishing it out.
It needs to be able to handle spray, too.
Is it creative and innovative to design something that everyone jokingly predicted years in advance?
No. It's predictable. But that doesn't mean it doesn't make some kind of sense.
Re: No ports at least makes sense (Score:1)
No. Underwater capable 3.5mm and USB ports have been a thing for almost a decade, you apologist scum. People like you are the reason companies can put this shit and call it "courage".
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No. Underwater capable 3.5mm and USB ports have been a thing for almost a decade, you apologist scum.
I have a phone with those features, you boring dildo. But it doesn't change the fact that water resistance can still be improved.
People like you are the reason companies can put this shit and call it "courage".
People like you are tedious and trite.
Re: No ports at least makes sense (Score:1)
So your answer to "this feature is not yet perfect" is "remove the feature".
Great.
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So your answer to "this feature is not yet perfect" is "remove the feature".
No, that's Apple's answer. My answer is to buy something else, as I stated up front. When you learn to read, you can save yourself the knee jerks.
Re: No ports at least makes sense (Score:1)
Sorry for not reading all threads in which you commented. In this thread all I saw was you attempting to justify the potential to remove all ports.
Living in a glass house (Score:2)
Phones will be pieces of glass only - streaming everything back and forth from a central server.
That will be the ultimate lock in. No pay, no nothing.
if this is true... (Score:1)
CarPlay (Score:2)
One problem with this is support for CarPlay [wikipedia.org]. This is most commonly done with a plug today - car models support Wireless CarPlay [usatoday.com]
This is a much harder problem to solve than removing the headphone jack - a large part of the users were already using wireless headphones, a pair of earphones was included with the phone, the liifespan of a headphone used with a phone is limited and getting new ones are quite cheap anyway. For cars, none of this would apply.
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I'm not so sure they care about this. When the system when from 30 pin to Lightning it fucked a lot of people who had integration in their cars.
Even if the car head units were new enough that they had USB, they didn't have the capability to support the iPhone cabled to USB, it had to use a proprietary fixed 30 pin connector that went to the head unit.
Carmakers will never update such systems, even if it is something that could be fixed in a software refresh.
Re: CarPlay (Score:2)
Apple and loss (Score:2)
Re: Apple and loss (Score:2)
Re: Apple and loss (Score:2)
Then (Score:5, Funny)
The only third party accessory for an IPhone would be..
a barge pole
(for not touching it with)
It will be water-proof (Score:4, Insightful)
As the phone has no ports, it will be water-proof. A big selling point as I want to keep in touch with my friends while scuba-diving (the fact that I can't swim notwithstanding).
Please, don't hit me in the head with the barge pole if you spot me in the water.
Well, if Apple goes one further and releases a phone with no ports, no screen, no microphone, no speaker, no battery, no electronics and no case, I'm all in.
I can suggestt the name "Dr. No" for this phone.
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Except that RF doesn't travel well underwater, so forget having any connectivity if it's submersed. And that means no Bluetooth too, another fail.
Three Eyed Monster (Score:1)
It comes without a screen or visual port (camera). (Score:2)
It's a slab of aluminium. It also has this super new Apple patent that never bothers you with notifications. And it never need recharging. Awesome!
Blocked (Score:2)
Note even 8080 or 23?
All ports? (Score:1)
Hope they keep the microphone for input.
DFU restore the handset? (Score:2)
I wonder how the iPhone will be DFU restored. With current phones, it requires iTunes (or in Catalina, a different app) and a downloaded ROM file. However, Apple either will need to have functionality at the iBoot level to go find an open Wi-Fi and download the entire ROM, or provide some mechanism for this to happen.
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Accessibility issues (Score:2)
While it's probably fine if they have entirely wireless models of their device, I can imagine that there will be issues with some people who may necessarily *require* wired headphones.
Also, a "completely wireless experienece" makes it difficult to charge anywhere, because while usb plugs might be ubiquitous, and usb charging cables are easy to fold down and can be put in your pocket, or even bought at a dollar store in a pinch, I cannot see the same thing being said for wireless charging facilities anyti
Courageous (Score:1)
No sale. (Score:1)
Wireless Chargers (Score:1)