Apple could be forced to kill Lightning and adopt USB-C in iPhones

(Image credit: Future)

Update: A new rumor claims the iPhone 14 Pro will come with USB-C connectivity.

The Lightning port on the new iPhone xiii remains a persistent badgerer considering the rest of the tech world, including the new iPad mini 6, accept switched to USB-C. It seems the European Union has had enough of Apple sticking to its proprietary tech.

As reported by the New York Times, the EU has unveiled new legislation that would standardize phone charging ports amongst phone manufacturers, requiring that all new phones use USB-C from 2024 onward.

This could mean that the 2023 or 2024 iPhone would finally come with a USB-C port, in Europe at least. Granted, it would exist silly for Apple tree to sell USB-C iPhones in Europe and Lightning iPhones everywhere else. So, if this legislation passes, it could effectively impale a proprietary port that was starting time introduced in 2012.

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"Chargers power all our most essential electronic devices. With more and more devices, more and more chargers are sold that are non interchangeable or not necessary," said Thierry Breton, the European commissioner for trade in a press release. "Nosotros are putting an end to that. With our proposal, European consumers will be able to use a single charger for all their portable electronics — an important step to increment convenience and reduce waste."

According to the Times, Apple is not a fan of the proposed legislation. Apple argues that switching to USB-C would effectively create more waste. "We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating simply one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in plow will harm consumers in Europe and around the globe," an Apple spokesperson told TechRadar.

But that statement seemingly ignores the fact that USB-C has been standard for years across multiple devices, including many of Apple's own products. And considering Apple doesn't include a charger with its phones anymore and that the iPhone 13 line supports 20W charging speeds, lay consumers might get out to buy Apple tree's own 20W fast charging brick instead of using i they might already ain.

Many consumers look at accuse ports every bit either iPhone or Samsung, non Lightning or USB-C. This EU legislation would essentially unify charging, potentially lessening iPhone vs. Android port confusion.

Apple also contends that regulating one particular technology would stifle innovation. If the Eu had mandated such a law back in 2009, the argument goes, that might take prevented both Lightning and USB-C from taking off. Breton dismissed that every bit a stock response from tech companies any time this type of legislation is proposed.

The proposal must exist voted on by the European Parliament and then adopted by device makers, and then information technology could be some time earlier we see USB-C every bit the standard. We expect more pushback by Apple in the concurrently.

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Imad Khan is news editor at Tom'south Guide, helping directly the twenty-four hours's breaking coverage. Prior to working at the site, Imad was a total-fourth dimension freelancer, with bylines at the New York Times, the Washington Postal service and ESPN. Outside of work, you lot can detect him sitting blankly in front end of a Word certificate trying desperately to write the starting time pages of a new book.