Compliance was voluntary, however, and allowed Apple to keep its charging port as long as it did.
iPhone 15 in USB-C: The story it's so far
Then phone makers finally ditched micro USB in favor of USB-C, and while things seemed quiet, the push to adapt the standard charger never went away. Discussions took place for several years, and the first draft law was not published until January 2022. However, the wheels of politics move very slowly. Several months later, in October 2022, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of this new rule.
Apple criticized the idea of a common charger even before the first draft of the legislation was written, arguing that requiring one interface over another would "stifle innovation rather than encourage it" and that such a rule would "harm consumers". And around Europe". World".
The company also said it agreed with EU environmental goals at the time, but repeatedly argued that throwaway lighting would create more electronic waste than it would prevent.
Despite the opposition, Apple has confirmed that it will comply with the EU rule. Although USB-C is required by law in the EU, it is likely to make waves across the planet.
Several countries, including India, South Korea and the US, have already proposed following the EU's lead and making USB-C charging mandatory. It's also incredibly unlikely that Apple would bother developing an iPhone with USB-C that would only be sold in the EU. It is much easier and more logical to have one product line that is available everywhere.
So it's not a matter of if, but when. And all the rumors point to the iPhone 15 finally moving to USB-C.
The USB-C switch has more than a standard connector. While this is Apple's main advantage in making the switch, USB-C is also capable of much more than Apple's Lightning connector - especially when it comes to charging and data transfer.
Currently, Lightning cables are limited to USB 2.0 speeds of 480 Mbps, while USB-C has a maximum speed of 80 gigabytes – about 166 times faster. Apple phones currently have a maximum charging speed of 20 watts, while USB Power Delivery offers up to 240 watts. Very few phones offer more than 50 watts of charging, but Apple still lags behind phones like the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra, which can charge 45 watts. Access to faster download speeds could prove to be a major upgrade and allow Apple to remain more competitive in the future.
It should be noted that these speeds are not guaranteed. The iPad 10, the first entry-level iPad to offer USB-C, is limited to USB 2.0 speeds. However, this shouldn't be as much of a problem for a premium product like the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro.
USB-C also opens up the possibility to better support accessories, including external storage, hubs and documents, external displays, keyboards and mice, etc. All of these things are already available on iPads, of course, and are probably more useful on a larger screen. But adding better connectivity to the iPhone via USB-C gives users more choice and flexibility in how they use their phone.
The biggest downside, of course, is that current lightning accessories and cables are pretty much useless. This means users will have to rely on adapters or replace any accessories that still require a physical connection to continue working. And it's not good for consumers or the environment. But after a short period of time for people to get used to the change, the advantages of USB-C can easily outweigh the disadvantages.
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