According to a post on Chinese social network Weibo citing anonymous supply chain sources, Apple may ship its 2018 iPhones with new USB-C power adapters and USB-C to Lightning cables for fast charging (via MacRumors). The unverified report also claims that Apple is looking to upgrade all of its devices to support USB-C.
“We’re not able to verify this rumor as it comes from a source without a track record for accurate reporting, but switching to USB-C power adapters across the iPhone and iPad lineup would make some sense as Apple’s Mac lineup has largely transitioned to USB-C.
Apple is said to be planning to upgrade to USB-C support for all of its devices, shipping next-generation iPhones with a redesigned 18W power adapter that allows for USB-C fast charging with an included USB-C to Lightning cable”.
For those who aren’t aware, an 18W USB-C power adapter would enable fast charging speeds and would allow the iPhone to charge from 0 to 50% in roughly 30 minutes.
While current generation iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and iPad Pro models include fast charging functionality, it requires customers to buy a USB-C MacBook power adapter or a third-party USB-C power adapter, as well as a Lightning to USB-C cable. When using fast charging functionality over USB-C with a USB-C to Lightning cable, maximum charging speeds are achieved on an iPad or iPhone at approximately 18W.
Existing iPhone models ship with a 5W power adapter that works with a USB-A to Lightning cable, meaning an upgrade to an 18W adapter and a USB-C to Lightning cable would be a pretty big change.
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And decrease overall battery life too.
It’s funny, when the iPhone 6 came out with fast charging via the 12 Watt iPad adapter, everyone just yawned even though the charging speed increase was incredible. Now the 8 and X come out with a very slight improvement over using the 12 Watt charger and everyone thinks it’s amazing. Google tests between the 12 and 18 Watt chargers – it’s a very small difference. Everyone that has an iPhone 6 and up can benefit from using an inexpensive 12 Watt iPad charger. If you use the 18 Watt adapter, you’ll also kill your battery faster.
Good to see the change to USB-C on IOS devices and on the Macbook Pro. I like fact that the USB-C brick has a detachable cable – so if the cable goes bad it can be replaced.
It would really be nice if Apple would make a USB-C brick with a USB-C to a Mag-Safe connector for the older Macbook Pros. That way folks wouldn’t have to pitch their power bricks because of power cable failure on the old power supply brick and cable – we could simply replace the cable, not the still operable power brick. This would be a more environmental friendly use of materials and help cut the waste stream in the process.
Ughh, another cable change. At least this time it’s something that the masses will embrace. USB-C is already on most newer desktops and laptops.
Though the battery technology is still the same all these years. Doesn’t a faster charge over and over and over again mean less battery life and a faster degradation of battery life after year 1, forcing one to buy a new phone early?