The next generation of Lightning connectors could be waterproof.
Per a recently published Apple patent, the company is working on updating its current Lightning connector design to “create a liquid-tight seal.”
The patent notes that as devices see more use, they become more at risk to liquid damage and spills. As such, Apple has been creating water tight seals around their devices to help protect them from water damage. With the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch, Apple has even created a “water mode” that disables the input to the device and even spurts out water after you disable the mode.
In the patent, Apple is looking to make a watertight seal around the Lightning port. At present, it’s unclear as to whether the seal will be on the device side or on the Lightning cable’s side.
In one example, the device itself creates a deformable seal once a Lightning cable is plugged in. This particular scenario could cause issues down the road if the seal is damaged internally as it would require the user to replace the entire device, rather than simply replacing the cable.
Whether or not this patent and its ideas will see the light of day in a forthcoming product is unknown, but it’s an interesting notion that could appear in one form or another somewhere down the line.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac and Patently Apple