No, Apple will not drop USB-C from the iPhone 18

Most iPhone followers are at present centered on the upcoming launch of the iPhone 17e, which might be right here in a matter of days. However one doubtful rumor doing the rounds on social media proper now considerations a flagship cellphone from the subsequent era. It’s only a disgrace that it’s nearly definitely fallacious.

This TikTok video, which on the time of writing has been seen greater than 17 million instances, purports to point out the charging port of the iPhone 18. (Or “iPhone18,” because it’s labelled by the clearly educated maker.) However slightly than the USB-C port, which has been used on all Apple smartphones for the reason that iPhone 15 in 2023, the animation reveals one thing extra akin to the MagSafe connector that seems on newer MacBooks.

The charging cable, which has a slightly good black braided twine, attaches through a magnetic connection. When it’s in place a inexperienced LED lights up on the charger head, and a small inexperienced lightning bolt is proven on the backside of the beforehand clean cellphone display. (By no means thoughts that iPhones don’t behave like this; it’s the least of our worries.) It appears to be like similar to the MagSafe cable on my 2021 MacBook Professional, besides with three pins as a substitute of 5 and a chunkier physique.

Now, the video doesn’t record its sources; we don’t get the same old “supply-chain sources” or “folks with data of the matter.” It’s simply an animation. So in some methods it’s fairly troublesome to refute: the place did this data come from? Who mentioned this was possible? Is that this merely an idea that an illustrator dreamed up, like this animation from the identical channel displaying potential iPhone 18 Professional colours?

Regardless of the video’s intention, it’s getting main traction from viewers who suppose it’s actual. A fast flick through a handful of the 9,700-odd feedback reveals viewer after viewer complaining about Apple’s foolishness in doing this, or the impracticality of the design. A number of look like Android followers mocking iPhone customers for his or her misfortune. I couldn’t discover any feedback declaring that that is terribly unlikely to occur.

As a result of, as a number of commenters argue, it wouldn’t be a sensible resolution. It will disconnect very simply, and in contrast to on the MacBook, disconnecting simply isn’t obligatory to guard it from a particular kind of accident. It will annoy prospects and equipment makers. And it might create issues with the EU, who mandated USB-C connectors on all smartphones offered in its territory.

What could have occurred is that somebody has acquired confused between MagSafe on the iPhone and MagSafe on the Mac. They’re each charging requirements that use a magnetic connection to maintain the charging factors in place, however in most different respects they’re completely completely different. (For instance, the cellphone’s magnetic connection is stronger in order that it stays linked for those who nudge the system, whereas the laptop computer is designed to detach for those who journey on the wire.) The iPhone 17 already has the cellphone model of MagSafe, and the iPhone 18 will too, however that doesn’t imply it is going to have the Mac model as properly. If nothing else, it will be enormously complicated.

Whereas the iPhone 17e is anticipated to be right here in time for Apple’s “expertise” on March 4, the primary 18-series iPhones received’t arrive till September. And the precise iPhone 18, the cheaper baseline mannequin, won’t flip up till the next spring. So bookmark our iPhone 18 superguide to maintain up with all the newest information and rumors.