Apple's 2017 iPhone lineup will keep the lightning port, but switch to USB-C standard for power delivery. According to KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will finally bring fast charging to iPhones with the adoption of USB-C power delivery. Apple recently joined the Wireless Power Consortium and the company is likely to add wireless charging support to iPhones this year.
Earlier this week, a Wall Street Journal report claimed that iPhones will switch to USB-C port like the company's 2016 MacBook Pro lineup. Kuo refutes that claim stating Apple will keep the proprietary lightning port but the internal components will change to support 'Type C Power Delivery'. The design advantage and royalties program is seen as major reason to continue using the Lightning port.
Kuo has already revealed that Apple will adopt 2-cell L shaped battery design for the next-generation iPhone 8. The new report suggests Apple will source components from Texas Instruments and Cypress. The USB-C port supports faster data transfer rates than Apple's Lightning but the Cupertino-based company finds it a 'niche application' and not a compelling upgrade.
The proprietary Lightning port has a slimmer design when compared to a USB-C port. Apple also licenses Lightning port design under its MFi program to accessory makers. Apple's switch to USB-C port would make the next iPhone incompatible with thousands of Lightning accessories and could also draw criticism from companies part of the MFi program.
Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones later this year. Two of those models are expected to serve as an incremental updates to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, while the third one could be a redesigned iPhone with an OLED display. Kuo predicts that Apple will include a Lightning to USB-C cable instead of the traditional USB-A cable with the next iPhone model.