Time For a New Dock: iPhone 5 to Feature Smaller 19 Pin Dock Connector

Many bemoaned Apple for sticking with the same design for two models of iPhone in a row, but it looks as though the Cupertino Company is set to really shake things up with the iPhone 5 later this year.

We’ve been hearing whispers of a completely redesigned dock connector since much earlier in the year, when iLounge reported on it. Back then the website claimed the dock would be much smaller, more rounded, and feature less pins inside. Now Reuters has weighed in on the matter, quoting not one, but two sources that are ‘familiar with the matter’.

Apple will ditch the larger 30 pin connector that has featured on its products for almost a decade, replacing it with a smaller 19 pin connection. This decision will allow Apple to move the headphone socket from the top to the bottom of the device, which is how the iPod Touch is designed.

This move could also be an attempt by Apple to shake up the accessory market and keep things moving forward. Of course, those who want the new iPhone could be left with a selection of pre-iPhone 5 accessories that are incompatible, which is bound to be an annoyance. Such a change would benefit the thousands of accessory makers out there, who will be able to churn out new docking stations, cases, audio accessories and more.

If Apple does change its dock connector, we can be sure to see it feature amongst other product ranges within the next year or so; namely the iPod Touch, iPad and iPod Nano. A smaller connector could lead to thinner and lighter devices, properties which we all love.

We’re hoping that Apple will create some sort of adaptor to enable the new iPhone to work with existing docks. While this would be a welcome idea by consumers, we think that most Apple fans will be happy to buy new gadgets and accessories as par for the course of owning the latest iPhone.

Will a new dock connector put you off buying the new iPhone?

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Via: Reuters