Every phone maker aspires to make phones as slim as possible, but there are certain limitations. One of them is the charging port. When the Oppo Find N5 debuted, one outlet even called it โas thin as USB-C allows.โ But what if USB-C was removed altogether? It sounds like a crazy idea. But not impossible. Something similar was reportedly considered by Apple. The iPhone 17 Air was said to have been considered without a USB-C port, relying entirely on wireless charging, according to Bloomberg.
Apple nearly cut USB-C from iPhone 17 Air
Even if Apple wanted to go portless, it might not be able to. And itโs not because the company canโt. Itโs likely because of EU regulations. The European Union mandates USB-C in smartphones, which is why Apple transitioned from the Lightning port to USB-C in the first place. This no-port strategy might invite even more trouble for the company.
Bloombergโs Mark Gurman reports in the Power On newsletter that Apple will include a USB-C charging port, likely to comply with EU regulations. Apple had bigger plans for the rumored iPhone Air, even testing a thinner 6.9-inch model, but scrapped it over concerns it might bend too easily. Samsung seems to be taking a cautious approach as well, with an executive stating they wonโt compromise on the Galaxy S25 Edgeโs durability for its โsexyโ form factor.
The question remains. Will Samsung eventually introduce USB-C-free phones, as Apple reportedly considered for the iPhone 17 Air? Maybe, but not just yet. Wireless charging technology is already powerful, but still lags behind wired charging in speed. Once that gap is closedโand regulatory bodies approveโSamsung might consider enter this space, too.
