Why an iPhone with USB-C could hit the market worldwide

The European Union has decided: If Apple wants to sell new iPhones in the region need these devices have a USB-C port before the end of 2024.

That means Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector, which has been around for more than a decade and has established itself as a sizeable moneymaker for the tech giant, must be phased out on future iPhones. At least those going to the EU.

“We have no choice – as we do around the world, [Apple will] Comply with local laws,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said at a Wall Street Journal tech conference Oct. 25 when asked if Apple will comply with the EU’s common charging law.

“We think it would have been greener and better for our customers if government wasn’t so prescriptive.”

While the legislation technically only applies to consumer electronics sold within the European Union, Apple could be forced to decide the fate of the Lightning port for iPhones destined for overseas. Most commercial phones charge and connect to accessories via the USB-C standard, but iPhones do not. Could this mean that future iPhones sold outside the European Union will also switch to a USB-C charging port? Or will Apple make hardware changes by region: produce two iPhone variants to support USB-C and Lightning – one for the EU and the other for the rest of the world?

Apple already modifies iPhone models regionally, as was the case with the iPhone 14. The US version only has one electronic SIM, while other variants retain the SIM slot, as Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart points out. But he also believes Apple has good reasons to move all iPhones to USB-C.

“…There are bigger ecosystem, security and accessory considerations around the power/data port, so I think it’s more likely that Apple will postpone all iPhones [globally] to USB-C in the iPhone 16 timeframe to comply with European regulations.”

For more than a decade, European lawmakers have been pushing for electronic devices to include a standardized charger to reduce cable clutter and e-waste. The legislation, which is part of the amended Radio Equipment Directive, was finalized in June before the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the rule in October. Its approval is widely seen as a win for consumers, who will soon be able to use just a single USB-C charger for a range of accessories and devices, including higher-wattage devices like gaming laptops and 4K monitors. Its introduction was also seen as an environmental benefit. A European think tank estimates that chargers in the EU dispose of up to 13,000 tonnes of e-waste per year and have associated lifecycle emissions of around 600 to 900 kilotonnes in carbon dioxide equivalent.

Apple has been vocal against the idea of ​​a shared phone charger. The tech giant argues that such legislation could stifle innovation and exacerbate the problem of e-waste, as it would likely make the Lightning cable obsolete for potentially a billion people worldwide. Apple charging third-party companies that make accessories made specifically for the iPhone would potentially miss out on revenue from any Lightning cable and accessory compatible with the iPhone.

Despite Apple’s push back, the tech giant has allegedly Put a USB-C iPhone to the test. Well-known Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo forecast Apple will beat the EU mandate by a year and add a USB-C port to a new iPhone in 2023.

“USB-C could improve iPhone transfer and charging speeds in hardware designs, but final specs still depend on iOS support,” Kuo wrote in a May post on Twitter.

Ahead of the then-upcoming EU vote, Apple began incorporating USB-C into its other products in 2015 with this year’s MacBook. The company later replaced Lightning with USB-C on the iPad Pro in 2018, the iPad Air in 2020, and the iPad Mini in 2021. In addition to a USB-C port on a rumored 2023 iPhone, Kuo anticipates several other Apple accessories, including AirPods, the Magic Keyboard, and the MagSafe Battery Pack, to move to USB-C, but he didn’t offer a specific timeline.

Continue reading: Will a USB-C iPhone ditch Apple’s Lightning cable? not yet

In the long term, the iPhone’s move to USB-C will benefit Apple customers – just as the legislation envisions. Since most of the company’s iPads and Macs already use USB-C instead of Lightning, the move will streamline the charging experience. Apple loyalists currently need three different types of chargers to power the iPhone, MacBook, iPad and Apple Watch. For a company that prides itself on its ecosystem, Apple offers a cumbersome charging experience that belies its ethos of simplicity.

“It makes sense for Apple [switch to a USB-C iPhone] across markets, as it will not only improve the experience of users who also use iPads or Macs, but will also simplify processes in the supply chain,” Will Wong, research manager at International Data Corporation, told CNET.

Continue reading: Apple’s dream for iPhones could actually be a nightmare

Even if Apple eventually moves to a USB-C iPhone for all models, it’s possible the port will only be used for a short time. Rumors point to Apple Abandon ports on the iPhone altogetherfully switch to wireless charging and connectivity, like Apple’s MagSafe accessory.

“Portless will probably be one of the developments that Apple had in mind when we saw the launch of the MagSafe wireless charger,” Wong said. “Nevertheless, they exist Hurdles like slower loading speed to overcome before it becomes completely portless”,