Bye Lightning! Apple must equip iPhones with USB-C by 2024

An EU law forces Apple to switch iPhones from Lightning to USB-C by 2024. That shouldn’t be too difficult a challenge for Apple, though. A change to USB-C is already planned anyway.

The EU has been trying for quite a while to introduce a law for a uniform connection for smartphones, laptops, tablets and other electrical devices. Now is the law finally become reality, reports 9to5Mac. Smartphones, cameras, mobile game consoles, tablets and other electrical devices that will appear from autumn 2024 must have a USB-C port. With this, the EU wants to reduce the amount of electronic waste and at the same time simplify the lives of consumers.

iPhone with USB-C connection should be planned anyway

Some time ago, many experts still assumed that the new EU law could cause problems for Apple. Despite the switch to USB-C for the iPad and Mac, the company has so far stuck to the Lightning connector for the iPhone. However, current reports indicate that Apple could also switch to the USB-C standard for iPhones before the deadline expires.

The usually well-informed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo assumes that the iPhone 15 models will come with a USB-C connection. in one Tweet of May 11, 2022 he reports that his latest survey indicates a rapid switch from Lightning to USB-C. The Lightning port could already be history in the second half of 2023, i.e. by the launch of the iPhones after next. A switch to USB-C could also increase data transfer and charging speeds on iPhones, Kuo said.

Apple’s alternative to USB-C: an iPhone without ports

The deadline for switching to USB-C shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for Apple. However, a small detail in EU law would allow Apple to have an alternative to the USB-C connection. The law literally says: “It requires that cell phones and similar radio devices, if they charged via cable can be equipped with the USB Type-C socket.”

Theoretically, an iPhone without any connections and charging wirelessly would also be conceivable. However, it currently looks like Apple will switch to USB-C for the iPhone.