Good news: you can now keep your Lightning port iPhone for longer

While Apple tries to offer updates with each new smartphone release, what about users who own older devices?

When it comes to future iPhones, there are speculations that the company may release its upcoming iPhone 17 without any charging ports. The smartphone would be charged via a wireless charger, and any data would be synced through the cloud.

While this change is only a rumor so far, there’s already something that users who still own an iPhone with a Lightning port could do to prolong its life.

The company Obsoless offers users who own an iPhone with a Lightning port an accessory known as the iPh0n3 USB-C Protection Case.

What makes this case special is that it has a built-in Lightning-to-USB-C adapter. The case supports fast charging, data transfers, and CarPlay, but it won’t work with accessories such as USB-C speakers and headphones that take power from the phone, notes Macworld.

The cases are suitable for iPhones as old as the iPhone XR. However, the site shows that most of the cases are sold out, with some still available for iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models.

The price of the cases also differs, ranging from CHF 43.90 (around $55) to CHF 49.90 (around $63), depending on the selected phone model.

Obsoless founder Ken Pillonel is known for changing the iPhone X's Lightning port to USB-C. Later, he moved to creating a business that sells adapter-type accessories.

Apple's last smartphone with a Lightning port was the iPhone 14 series, launched in 2022.

Apple has replaced its Lightning port with USB-C in 2023, with the release of iPhone 15.

It was previously reported that Apple’s 3rd-generation iPhone SE and iPhone 14, which still include a Lightning port, will no longer be sold in European Union (EU) markets.

The decision was impacted by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which states that smartphones sold in EU countries must include a USB-C port and be charged using a USB-C cable. The aim is to reduce electronic waste.