- We already have reliable rumors that next-next iPhone (not this Sept, but next) will have USB-C port.
- Qi is not a standard they control like Lightning either way.
- Portless phone would be very unpopular (no fast charging), USB-C would be very popular. Apple would not choose to be unpopular just to watch the world hate them.
Apple dropped the headphone port, despite wireless headphones still not being as good as wired (IMHO). This shows that they are perfectly willing to do that which is unpopular.
The same Apple which removed headphone jack so they can sell more dongles and wireless headphones?
I can see them making portless phone just out of pure spite (maybe having cheaper version with port and not selling that in EU).
What kind of mindset is this? Sometimes Apple prefers aesthetics over practicality, but they are not a spiteful company (unless you are Nvidia), particularly when it hurts customers.