According to one, a hobbyist has Report by 9to5Mac an iPhone 12 Mini with a Dual-Port-Design equipped to be able to use both connections. The construction makes it possible to synchronize the smartphone with the computer either via USB-C or Lightning, as the hobbyist shows in a video that consists mostly of still images.
Apple will likely switch to USB-C with the iPhone 15 because legislation in the European Union dictates that just regarding all small electronic devices must use a common charging port. The move to USB-C makes it easier to charge the iPhone because it uses a standard charging connector.
It is rather unrealistic that Apple will offer a dual-port design for its iPhones. However, there are reports that Apple will not simply switch to USB-C, but will offer certified cables and devices that enable some functions that are not possible with normal USB-C.
Whether it is also possible with the modified iPhone to use headphones and charge the device at the same time is not clear from the hobbyist’s video. This has been a problem since the iPhone 7, when Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to either charge or use wired headphones.
The Swiss engineer Ken Pillonel published the construction plans for his iPhone conversion to USB-C following a first video in October at the end of 2021. The technical documents including board structure and CNC plans are available at Github.
