By the fall of 2024, the European Union has mandated that all new smartphones and other similar electronic gadgets sold in its 27 member countries have a USB-C charging connector. This is to allow users to charge all of their gadgets with a single charger type, thereby prohibiting Apple's Lightning port from being used on any new models produced after that date. Although the judgement only applies in the EU, it is likely to have a global impact on devices.
While the new ruling is being portrayed as the EU regulating smartphones, it actually covers a much broader range of "small and medium-sized portable electronic devices." Any cell phone, tablet, e-reader, earbuds, digital camera, headphones, headset, handheld video game console, or portable speaker with a rechargeable battery that is charged over a wire (rather than, say, a dedicated charging dock or wirelessly) will need to have a USB-C port, regardless of the manufacturer. Laptops are also affected by the ruling, however makers have an additional 40 months to comply.
Apple doesn't have to eliminate the Lightning port from future iPhones; it merely has to replace it with a USB-C port in those launched after 2024. The chances of the design-focused corporation adding a second port to its svelte smartphone, on the other hand, are practically nil. Apple going totally wireless with the iPhone is a more likely option that has been discussed for some time. It doesn't need a USB-C port if it's not charged via cable.
Apple has been testing USB-C iPhones, according to Bloomberg, while similar claims have been circulating for a few years. The iPhone is an exception in Apple's lineup: the iPad Pro, Air, and Mini, MacBook Air and Pro, and even select Beats headphones all use USB-C for charging. (On the iPad Mini marketing website, Apple boasts about its adaptability!) Apple was also involved in the development of USB-C as part of the USB Implementers Forum, so it's not like the business has completely shunned it. The EU is now pressuring it to fully adopt it.
In this sector, the EU has a patchy history of regulation. It attempted to compel manufacturers to utilize the Micro-USB port in 2009. Because of the way the regulation was written, Apple was able to meet the requirements by selling a $15 Micro-USB to 30-pin adaptor. This time, there isn't a loophole to be found.
Fortunately, the regulation will only apply to new products that are introduced after it takes effect. Given how Apple handled last year's models, this will most likely be beneficial to them: It offers them at a discount and sells them as mid-tier and entry-level solutions. The iPhone 13 and 13 Pro (coming in 2021), the iPhone 12 (launched in 2020), and the iPhone 11 are all available currently (released in 2019). The iPhone 15 and 14 can still be sold with Lightning ports if we assume the first iPhone issued under this regulation will be the iPhone 16 (if that's what it's named).
The EU is playing this as a big win for consumers. Alex Agius Saliba, the EU Parliament’s rapporteur, said: “Today we have made the common charger a reality in Europe! European consumers were frustrated long [sic] with multiple chargers piling up with every new device.” Unfortunately, in reality, the situation could be less clear cut.
The USB-C specifications are largely viewed as a "complete disaster." Although all devices use the same ports, the power and data transfer speeds are not necessarily the same. Some USB-C cables have data transfer speeds of 5 Gbps, while others have data transfer speeds of 20 Gbps. The only way to detect the difference is to look at the package and look for the "SuperSpeed USB" rating. Similarly, the wattages of different USB-C wall plugs vary. Although a smartphone's 10W plug can technically charge a 16" MacBook Pro (which comes with a 140W charger), it rarely provides enough power to keep the battery charged while in use.
"Charging speeds are also harmonized for devices that support fast charging," according to the EU, "enabling customers to charge their devices at the same speed with any suitable charger." Instead of having a drawer full of diverse chargers, many consumers may end up with a drawer full of chargers that look the same—and devices that never charge as quickly as they could.
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