Recent rumors suggest that Apple will continue to use the Lightning connector on the iPhone 12, although the company has tested a prototype with a USB-C connector. Next year, however, the iPhone 13 may not have a port at all.

The source for this claim is Twitter leaker choco_bit, who has previously made several accurate predictions about Apple's activities. This is not the first time we have heard such rumors, however, and Jon Prosser has made both of these claims about the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 before.

We had hoped that Apple would finally put a USB-C connector on the iPhone 12 instead of a Lightning connector; the iPad Pro already uses a USB-C port, and the EU recently ruled that technology companies must have universal charging solutions With the ruling that it was necessary to have a universal charging solution, we believed that Apple could discontinue Lightning for the first time this year since it was introduced in 2012.

But instead, Apple appears to be ramping up efforts to eliminate the need for the port altogether to avoid redesigning its products and accessories. iPhones released after the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in 2017 all support wireless charging (including the low-cost of the iPhone SE 2020), and Apple is reportedly still working to make the AirPower wireless charging mat an official accessory for this purpose.

As for the iPhone 13, it has long been rumored that Apple will bring the Smart Connector, which connects an iPad to accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, to the iPhone line. As choco_bit mentioned in response to a comment on the original tweet, it is possible to transfer power and data using the Smart Connector, just not very fast.

The truth about the iPhone 12's performance will be revealed in September or October, when Apple is expected to unveil its latest model. Apple's new phone will come in four different models with 5G capabilities, and the high-end Pro edition will include advanced features such as a 120 Hz display and a depth-sensing LiDAR sensor.