The upcoming iPhone 12 refresh should retain Apple’s Lightning port and there are apparently no plans whatsoever to replace it with USB-C like on the iPad Pro tablets because the Cupertino tech giant is ostensibly going all-in on wireless charging next year.
That doesn’t necessarily mean wide-range wireless charging capability.
Apparently, the iPhone releasing in 2021 will combine existing Qi wireless charging and the magnetic Smart Connector used for data transfer and syncing, which debuted on the iPad Pro.
This is according toApple leaker Fudge” (@choco_bit) who says that she was able to personally test iPhone prototypes with USB-C ports. However, those supposed models apparentlywon’t be entering mass productionbecause Apple’s leadership has allegedly made the decision to retain Lightning I/O on this year’s models before going port-less in 2021.
Shame the USB-c prototype iPhone 12’s arent making it to production. 1 more year of lightning 🥳😭
Oh well, at least smart connector on 13 series
— Stella – Fudge (@StellaFudge)July 03, 2025
The Smart Connector was designed to transfer both data and power between iPad Pro and the Smart Keyboard without requiring batteries or charging.The leaker explained in another tweetthat the Smart Connector won’t be the primary charging method on the 2021 iPhone 13 models because customers will be “expected to go wireless charging mainly”.
That might indicate a faster Qi wireless charging than Apple’s currently 7.5W implementation.
for clarification, smart connector thing on 13 series wont be the intended way to charge. Youll be expected to go wireless charging mainly. D6x series (iphone 13 series) hasnt really begun proper development yet so iphone magsafe more of a plan atm. Portless is coming either way
— Stella – Fudge (@StellaFudge)July 14, 2025
If that’s true, then the Smart Connector may act as a replacement for the Lightning port in terms of accessories. As a result of this transition, all the existing Lightning accessories either won’t work on the iPhone 13 or some sort of an adapter might be needed (whether included in the box or, more likely, sold separately).
Fudge previously shared details about unreleased Apple products, including a set of images recently shared on social media that purportedly show aniPhone 12 sporting a smaller notchand an updated rear camera systemshowing what appears to be a LiDAR scannerthat made its debut in the 2020 iPad Pro refresh.
Is port-less the future of the smartphone, do you think?
