Apple introduced its lightning dock connector last year with the sixth-generation iPhone.
Though named “lightning dock,” the connector only supported USB 2 speeds.
But Apple recently posted a job for a USB Senior Software Quality Engineer to join its team of USB Connectivity Compliance Q/A.
The candidate is required to have knowledge on both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, apparently to further testing of the iOS product lines.
This suggests that Apple may be planning to bring USB 3.0 to the lightning connector, which will allow for faster data sync between the iDevices and the computer.
The lightning connector currently supports USB 2.0 transfer speed, which is in Mbits per second, even when connected to the USB 3.0 port on a Mac.
However, USB 3.0 integration would take the sync speed to a whole new level of Gbits per second.