Apple to use smaller dock connector in next generation iPhone claims Reuters

Apple iPhone 4

Apple's next iPhone is largely expected to debut this fall, and if a report from Reuters is accurate, it will come with a brand-new dock connector, replacing the nearly decade-old 30-pin connector Apple has traditionally used.

Reuters cites two anonymous sources that claim that the next iPhone will feature a 19-pin connector for charging and syncing as opposed to the older 30-pin unit. The sources say the reason for this change is "to make room for the earphone moving to the bottom."

A change like this could make the thousands of accessories that use the current dock connector on the iPhone obsolete, as the new jack would be smaller and incompatible. There is a chance that Apple could release an adapter to allow the new iPhone to work with older accessories, however. It is speculated that the new, smaller dock connector could give Apple more room for different designs or larger batteries in future iOS-based devices.

Other rumors have suggested that the next iPhone will feature a larger display, 4G LTE connectivity, and support for Near Field Communications.