Smaller dock connector coming to all iOS devices?

iPhone 5 dock
iPhone 5 may not be the only device getting a downsized dock

Apple may soon be ditching the 30-pin dock connector found in all its iOS devices in favor of a smaller 8-pin port this fall.

Sources at Apple are reportedly indicating the new port will not only appear in the iPhone 5 – expected September 12 – but also in all other 30-pin port devices, including iPods,

iPhones

and

iPads

.

Citing specific products, iMore expects the new iPod Nano, iPod Touch, the rumored 7-inch iPad Mini and an updated version of the current 9.7-inch iPad to feature the diminutive dock connector.

TechRadar reported August 2 that the iPhone 5 will likely come with a downsized port. However, these are the first reports indicating the entire iOS device line will be getting a port reduction.

All of Apple's mobile devices, as well as iPods, iPhones and iPads, currently feature the 30-pin dock connector.

Initial signs pointed to the iPhone 5's dock connector being a 19-pin port, but these reports chop that figure by more than half.

The smaller connector may be a necessary structural change to accommodate the device's supposedly slimmer body.

A change of plans

These same Apple sources say the update for all iOS devices could happen as early as September 12.

Such an update would be unprecedented for a company that usually sticks to one or two major product announcements/developments a year.

However, it looks like Apple is more concerned with having a consistent dock design than sticking to a hard and fast release schedule.

No word yet from Apple as to when the port change for all devices, if indeed true, is coming.

Via iMore

Michelle Fitzsimmons

Michelle was previously a news editor at TechRadar, leading consumer tech news and reviews. Michelle is now a Content Strategist at Facebook.  A versatile, highly effective content writer and skilled editor with a keen eye for detail, Michelle is a collaborative problem solver and covered everything from smartwatches and microprocessors to VR and self-driving cars.