The EU-Apple feud ends as Apple will comply with EU’s mandate to make all smartphones compatible with USB Type-C charging ports. Bloomberg’s report hints that the iPhone’s charging port could switch to USB Type-C by next year, possibly for the iPhone 15 series, as the EU mandate will be in effect by 2024.
During the Wall Street Journal conference, Joswiak stated that Apple would comply with the EU law as it does with all other laws. He also mentioned that the company had faced difficulties with the EU over the charger issue for many years, and there were suggestions to switch to micro-USB ports. He concluded by pointing out that the invention of lightning and USB-C ports would not have happened if Apple had adopted micro-USB ports.
What will be the effect?
The prospect of Apple switching from lightning to USB-C ports is significant. Additionally, a considerable portion of Apple’s revenue is generated by adapters and lightning cables, which also serve to differentiate between Android and iPhones. This poses a barrier for iPhone users, as they cannot use any charger for their devices.
Apple stated that the shift to USB-C ports could result in increased waste production and could also pose a challenge for iPhone users accustomed to using lightning ports. Despite this, when Apple introduced USB-C ports for iPads and Macs, the audience did not respond negatively.
It is unclear whether Apple intends to introduce the port change globally or exclusively for the European market. Considering that many countries are increasingly implementing universal standards, it would be prudent for Apple to phase out the lightning port entirely.
