Barclays: Apple to ditch Lightning from at least one iPhone in 2021, won’t be switching to USB-C

According to a new research note shared by a Barclays analyst today, Apple could release a completely wireless iPhone model without Lightning — and quite possibly without USB-C or any other form of wired charging for that matter — as soon as next year.

A completely wireless iPhone

MacRumors has the story:

The biggest change of all could come next year as the analysts said they see potential for Apple to remove the Lightning connector from at least one iPhone model in 2021, echoing a prediction shared by fellow analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last month. This could result in wired EarPods being removed from the box, they said.

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities predicted last December that a completely wireless iPhone could in fact arrive as soon as 2021.

An excerpt from Kuo’s note, obtained by MacRumors, says the Cupertino firm will create more differentiation between flagship and other iPhones in 2021, with the highest-end model apparently ditching the Lightning port to provide what he referred to as “the completely wireless experience,” thereby hinting that Apple won’t be switching to USB-C at all on iPhones.

TUTORIAL: How to charge your iPhone or iPad faster

I’m not sure whether or not that makes sense because without wired charging, that supposed iPhone would be stuck with wireless charging which currently doesn’t hold a candle to the cable when it comes to charge speed, fast-charge support and so forth.

iPhone 12 to feature “refreshed” Face ID

The Barclays research note goes on to predict this year’s upcoming iPhone 12 models will feature a “refreshed” Face ID without providing specific details.

Analysts Blayne Curtis, Thomas O’Malley and Baylie Harri added that the rear-facing camera system on the iPhone 12 Pro models will feature 3D sensing based on a time-of-flight solution as well as and 6GB of RAM, as previously rumored, up from 4GB in the iPhone 11 Pro/Max.

Wrapping up, is Barclays calling for a completely wireless iPhone without any buttons and no wired charging? And if so, would such a phone be absolutely stupid or revolutionary?

Let us know what you think in the comments down below.