Is Apple Going Fully Wireless? The Truth About iPhone 17 Portless Rumours
For years, Apple has been edging towards a future without ports, and recent rumours suggest that the iPhone 17 Air was nearly the first completely port-free iPhone. Reports indicate that Apple strongly considered removing the USB-C charging port, but regulatory concerns—particularly from the European Union—forced the tech giant to rethink its strategy.
Apple’s Vision for a Portless iPhone
Ever since Apple removed the headphone jack in 2016 and introduced MagSafe wireless charging, speculation has grown about a completely wireless iPhone. The iPhone 17 Air was believed to be the most serious attempt yet at ditching all ports, making it fully reliant on MagSafe and wireless data transfers.
However, Apple reportedly backed away from this move due to EU regulations requiring USB-C ports on all new smartphones. While the tech giant still wants to minimise physical connections, compliance issues have delayed the port-free iPhone—for now.
What to Expect from the iPhone 17 Air
Despite keeping its USB-C port, the iPhone 17 Air is set to be Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, measuring just 5.5mm in thickness. Other key features include:
- A 6.6-inch display with ultra-slim bezels
- Dynamic Island cutout for notifications
- Camera Control button for enhanced photography
- Flagship battery life despite the ultra-thin design
Apple is marketing the iPhone 17 Air as a premium yet lightweight option, expected to launch at a price point of around $900.
Will Apple Ever Go Fully Portless?
The tech industry widely believes that Apple still wants to eliminate ports entirely in the future. The success of the iPhone 17 Air could be a testing ground to see how users respond to a thinner, more minimalist device.
With wireless charging improving and high-speed wireless data transfer evolving, a portless iPhone might not be far off. If Apple can resolve the charging speed and regulatory hurdles, the iPhone 18 or 19 could be the first fully wireless smartphone.
Final Thoughts
While the iPhone 17 Air will still have a USB-C port, Apple’s vision of a port-free iPhone remains very much alive. Whether this shift will benefit users or just be another controversial design choice remains to be seen.
Would you buy an iPhone without any ports? Let us know your thoughts!
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