The charging port may seem like an critical part of any smartphone.
Not only does it refuel the battery with essential power, but it lets users connect to external storage devices and transfer data.
However, it appears Apple could ditch the charging port altogether on its iPhones.
According to a new report, Apple could sell a portless iPhone, replacing the USB-C charging port currently on its handsets.
Where there’s usually the port at the bottom of the device between the speakers, iPhones could just have a blank bit of metal.
It would mean iPhones would have to rely wholly on wireless charging pads, which transmit power wirelessly using electromagnetic induction.
Apple tipster Mark Gurman has said the trillion-dollar tech company considered making the new iPhone 17 Air portless.
Although it ultimately decided against it for the upcoming device, the first portless iPhone may not be far away, the report reveals.
Instead of the port at the bottom between the speakers, iPhones could just have a blank bit of metal. Pictured, an iPhone with a USB-C charging port
Since a law was passed in 2022, Apple has been required to sell phones in the EU with a USB-C charging port, instead of its own ‘Lightning’ charging technology.
As a result, Apple begrudgingly fitted USB-C charging ports to all its iPhones starting in 2023 (having already adopted USB-C charging for Macs and iPads).
But according to the new report from 9to5mac, Apple wouldn’t actually contravene the law by getting rid of USB-C for iPhones altogether.
European Commission press officer Federica Miccoli told the Apple rumours site that a portless phone would be compliant with the legislation.
As a result, it may just be ‘only a matter of time’ before a portless iPhone arrives on the market, although reportedly it won’t be this year.
According to Apple expert Mark Gurman, the ‘world is probably ready for this change’ because many people prefer to use wireless charging pads.
Apple ultimately decided not to adopt a port-free design with the new iPhone 17 family, which will still have a USB-C connector, Gurman said.
MailOnline contacted Apple for comment, although the tech giant does not generally address any rumours or speculation.
It would mean iPhones would have to rely wholly on wireless charging pads, which transmit power wirelessly using electromagnetic induction
It’s believed iPhone Air 17 is one of four devices in the upcoming iPhone 17 family which is expected to be released in September.
Recently revealed photos show four metal dummy models representing the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Air and the standard iPhone 17 option.
According to Mark Gurman, the ‘iPhone 17 Air’ or ‘iPhone 17 Slim’ is expected to be a lighter, thinner option with less powerful hardware.
It will tie in with Apple’s range of ‘Air’ MacBook computers, which are touted for their light and thin design.
Why was Apple forced to replace Lightning with USB-C?
In 2022, the EU approved a law that made USB-C charging ports mandatory on all phones, tablets and other electronic devices.
Approved by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, the law forced Apple to stop selling iPhones that use its proprietary power connector, known as ‘Lightning’, in EU countries.
It instead made USB-C -already used by Android-based devices – the EU standard.
iPhones used to have Apple’s proprietary power connector technology ‘Lightning’, discernible by its eight pins (pictured)
The law, which came into effect in 2024, affects EU countries only, meaning Britain and the rest of the world wasn’t affected.
Apple could have sold iPhones with USB-C ports in EU countries and iPhones with Lightning in the rest of the world – but this was perhaps too much of a hassle.
Instead, the iPhone 15 family, released globally in 2023, became the first iPhone with a USB-C charging port.
