For years, USB Type-C has been the de-facto wired charging standard for mobile devices—celebrated for its universal compatibility, reversible design, and fast power delivery. But with wireless charging technology gaining momentum and regulations tightening, could Type-C connector ports that consumers are used to seeing on the exteriors of Apple, Google, and Samsung phones one day become a thing of the past?
A Bloomberg report1 suggested that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 air, one of four devices scheduled for release this September, was originally slated to feature a groundbreaking portless design. Already making a new record for the thinnest smartphone at 5.5mm2, the physical port removal was also expected to reduce production cost and minimize vulnerabilities to dust and water ingress. While the move was eventually scrapped, phone manufacturers do seem to be biding their time towards the inevitable.
One reason behind Apple’s hesitation could be the European Union’s (EU) Common Charger Director 2022/2380, which required the tech giant to replace their proprietary eight pin ‘Lightning’ power connector with USB-C ports for the iPhone 15. The iPhone 15 later became the first iPhone with a USB-C charging port3 and remained eligible for sale within the EU and European Economic Area (EEA).
While the Common Charger Director 2022/2380 requires “small and medium-sized” portable electronics to feature a USB-C port, the regulation notably does not apply to devices that do not feature wired charging. This is outlined in the EU Common Charger Directive ANNEX 1a, Part 1, point 2, and has been backed up by European Commission press officer Federica Miccoli’s statement4. Essentially confirming that fully wireless, portless phones would still be compliant under the law, which gives room for manufacturers to innovate within the current regulatory landscape.
Since such radio equipment cannot be recharged via wired charging, it does not need to incorporate the harmonised (wired) charging solution.
Until recently, wireless charging has been objectively regarded as a slower option due to the previous Qi 2.1 version’s 15W cap. However, the upcoming Qi 2.2 standard is expected to introduce 25W to Magnetic Power Profile capable devices, a speed that effectively closes the performance gap for the average user. With data transfer technology enabling wired pathways through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee, wireless alternatives are becoming more viable and providing manufacturers with more options.
Safeguards against overheating caused by foreign objects or misalignment have also been accounted for with the addition of MPP Power Loss Accounting (MPLA). This feature, which was added to the Qi2 standard, helps transmitters estimate power loss in the presence of foreign objects and adjust accordingly such that energy transmission remains within a preset safety range.
One key concern with eliminating USB-C ports is the temporary gap in high-speed data transfer and video output capabilities that are currently handled by DisplayPort over USB-C, which enables 4K video and 100W of power through reversible USB Type-C connectors simultaneously. Nevertheless, this gap is already being addressed with Wi-Fi 7, UWB, and Miracast offering viable pathways for wireless screen mirroring. Wireless technologies like WiGig are also promising speeds on par with USB 3.1 without a physical port.
According to insiders, the Chinese market may continue to favor ultra-fast wired charging as local brands continue to offer charging speeds of up to 200W via USB-C. Crucially, some Chinese manufacturers are doubling down on the idea of using smartphones as a mini-PC, with wired ports for peripheral and monitor connections.
Nevertheless, Chinese innovators are continuing to invest heavily in wireless charging technology in ICs, thermal solutions, and software based connectivity tools. The local market alone generated a revenue of USD 1,429.6 million in 20235, a figure that is expected to more than triple to USD 5,971.6 million by 2030.
Predicted to expand at a CAGR of 21.9% and reaching a market size of US $9.5 billion by 20326, consumers elsewhere can be reasonably expected to ditch their wired devices for wireless versions as power and data transference becomes more robust. The proliferation of wireless earbuds, smartwatches, and cloud syncing platforms, which have already become ubiquitous, suggest that smartphones might eventually follow similar trends.
Debugging workflows via wireless ADB and securing remote access protocols will become increasingly crucial as devices become increasingly dependent on wireless networks for both charging and data transfer. Thankfully, standardization is being rapidly implemented across encrypted channels, secure pairing standards, and chip-level authentication, bringing cybersecurity standards above and beyond previous benchmarks set by wired communications.
Regardless of when the first portless phones hit the market, it’s clear that wireless charging will undoubtedly feature more and more in devices moving forward. Manufacturers can prepare for the new minimalist hardware design future by getting up to speed with reliable Qi-based charging and robust cloud-based workflows.
Kickstart your Qi certification journey at our Wireless Power Consortium Authorized Test Labs or with automated Qi wireless charging test solutions.