Your next iPhone may have the same charging cable as Android phones

The USB Type-C socket, seen here on an HTC 10, has been seen on more and more Android flagship phones in recent years due to its faster charging capability and the fact that it is easier to plug in to phones. — dpa

Could Apple be planning to bundle the next generation of iPhone and iPad with a USB-C charger? If the rumours – and the leaked pictures claiming to be proof – are true, then the times of households littered with different chargers for different devices may be coming to an end – albeit with yet another new charger type for Apple users.

The leaked pictures claim to show a prototype of an Apple 18W charging brick that has a USB-C connection, the same connection that many newer Android devices already use.

USB-C cables also allow devices to charge much faster than other options, and unlike previous USB connectors, they can be inserted both ways round.

Another advantage of the USB-C charger is that it would allow MacBook Pro owners to connect their iPhone to their new MacBook without needing to buy an extra cable.

Nevertheless, there are still some unanswered questions, including whether the new iPhones would still also be compatible with the current Lightning connectors – if they are, then iPhone owners can keep using their old cables, but if not, that that means another cable migration is on the horizon.

Apple has yet to comment on the pictures, so it remains to be seen exactly what kind of charger Apple users will start using next. — dpa