Some of the most talked about changes on the iPhone 13 are starting to look like they could miss the next Apple smartphone.
According to a new report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (seen by AppleInsider), we should no longer expect Touch ID, USB-C connectivity or a portless design on the iPhone 13. This could paint an image of the next iPhone as a iterative update on the iPhone 12.
While we accepted that iPhones use their own Lightning connector, switching them to USB-C would still make charging the phone more convenient, given how prolific USB-C chargers are now.
And we saw Apple switch to USB-C with products like the iPad Pro, although the iPhone range is firmly fixed in Lightning posts.
Apparently, the reasons given for the iPhone 13 not moving away from the Lightning port are two. Switching to the standard USB-C connector would cause Apple to lose the licensing fees it receives for ‘Made For iPhone’ peripherals that use the Lightning connector. This would also make iPhones less water resistant, as Lightning ports are apparently safer against water intrusion compared to USB-C.
We won’t be stuck at the Lightning doors forever. As we have heard before, Apple will eventually switch the iPhone to wireless charging exclusively MagSafe, although this will happen after the iPhone 13, despite rumors that this year’s model would have no ports.
As Kuo wrote, “At the moment, the MagSafe ecosystem is not mature enough, so the iPhone will continue to use the Lightning port for the foreseeable future.”
Don’t expect Touch ID on iPhone 13
The worst thing is that Kuo also poured cold water on another latent rumor: the reintroduction of Touch ID.
We expected a new Touch ID sensor in line with the one found on the power button on the iPad Air or a new on-screen version similar to those found on many Android phones. But Kuo said that is not Apple’s plan.
“We believe that the iPhone will significantly improve the user experience if it adopts the on / off button with the Touch ID sensor. However, currently, there is no visibility as to when this new specification will be adopted, ”explained Kuo.
The iPhone 13 (or iPhone 12S, as it may be called) still has some decent updates. Some of the other new features that say they are 120 Hz dynamic monitors, a 1 TB storage option and better camera sensors and zoom capabilities. This could make the already impressive iPhone 12 Pro even better.
For the previous releases of the iPhone, we can expect the iPhone 13 to arrive around September this year.
Given that Apple is consistent in producing impressive smartphones, while arguably not extremely innovative, we can predict that the iPhone 13 has a chance to become a high-ranking member of our list of best phones. However, this will not stop us from wishing that Apple has given us some more title improvements, such as Touch ID or USB-C.