Apple considered launching the iPhone 17 Air without a USB-C charging port, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said that while Apple ultimately decided against making the iPhone 17 Air its first iPhone model without a charging port, the idea is still on the table for future iPhone models.
He said the iPhone 17 Air will "foreshadow a move to slimmer models without charging ports."
"The iPhone 17 Air represents the beginning of a sea change for Apple," he wrote. "Apple executives say that if this new iPhone is successful, the company intends to again attempt to make port-free iPhones and move more of its models to this slimmer approach."
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the first iPhone without a charging port would launch all the way back in 2021, but that did not happen. Apple has shifted from its custom Lightning port to the universal USB-C port on iPhones over the past few years, but the wait for an iPhone without a charging port at all continues.
P.S. Hopefully the iPhone 17 Air will support MagSafe, unlike the iPhone 16e.
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From the diretive
15. Can radio equipment that can only be recharged via wireless charging be made available on the market without incorporating the harmonised charging solution?
Yes. Since, such radio equipment cannot be recharged via wired charging, it does not need to incorporate the harmonised (wired) charging solution.
Regarding wireless charging, the Commission will promote the harmonisation of wireless charging in order to avoid future fragmentation of the internal market and any negative effects on consumer and the environment. The Commission will monitor the evolution of all types of wireless charging technologies (not only inductive), particularly market developments, market penetration, market fragmentation, technological performance, interoperability, energy efficiency and charging performance.
As stated in recital 13 of the Common Charger Directive, ‘ the Commission should take action towards promoting and harmonising such solutions to avoid future fragmentation of the internal market’ .
Especially given its been marketed as something you could film a “movie” with.
That means you would have to upload those large files wirelessly which may not always be possible depending on where you are filming.
(Say shooting a movie somewhere in Africa where cell service is not always the greatest)