Despite the decision of the European Parliament, the iPhone with the Lightning connector still has a cord for a while

Although many analysts believe that the change could take place next year, strictly speaking, Apple has until 2025 to abandon the Lightning port in favor of USB-C, which the European Parliament defined as mandatory in its territory.

European Press

The The European Parliament this Tuesday approved USB-C as a single charger means that all new smartphones sold in member states must contain it, regardless of the manufacturer’s brand, which Meaning Apple will have to get it on the iPhone as well.

iPhone phones Since 2012, they have included their own charging port called LightningUnlike the rest of the phones of the brands that use Android, which try to distinguish themselves more with charging technology, faster than with the port used, in recent years with the widespread use of USB type C, even in low and low ranges.

The obligation to include a USB Type-C port is expected to come into force at the end of 2024, which applies to smartphones regardless of manufacturer. This means that The new iPhones that were released at that time should have received such a port Which has been followed by Apple to this day by maintaining the numbering, would correspond to the iPhone 16 presented in September of the same year.

Despite this, This provision still requires final approval by the Boardand after that, EU governments will have two years Incorporation of these standards into national legislation. The European Parliament itself indicates in a press release that “it will not apply to products placed on the market before its entry into force”.

Without knowing Apple’s plans, that means The iPhone 16 could still have a Lightning portThe replacement of the connector on the next model, iPhone 17, in 2025 has been postponed. But it may happen sooner. Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman already expected in May that the adoption of a USB Type-C port would be implemented in the 2023 iPhone, a prediction in which analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also agreed.

Why Apple is against USB-C on the iPhone (although it uses it on the iPad)

Apple has resisted charging port standardization from the start. Already in 2019, it claimed that billions of branded products and third-party accessories incorporate the Lightning port, which is also used by millions of European consumers.

Adopting USB means, as he put it, generating “unprecedented volumes of e-waste” by “obsoleting” all the products and accessories that incorporate their own charging port. The company also sells Lightning to USB cable adapters among the accessories in its ecosystem.

approval A single USB-C charger also works with other categories of electronic devicesTablets, digital cameras, headsets, portable game consoles, wireless speakers, electronic book readers (“eReaders”) and accessories such as keyboards, mice, headsets and portable navigation devices.

That’s it Releases mandatory adoption of USB Type-C port for smart watches and activity bracelets, due to its size and conditions of use. Laptops, on the other hand, have more time (until 2026) to adapt to the new regulations.

The aim of this regulation is, on the one hand, to prevent consumers from having to purchase a new charger for each electronic device purchased and, on the other hand, to increase e-waste.

normative It also harmonizes the fast charging system so that users can charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger. And it includes an obligation to clearly communicate and label charging options, as well as indicate whether the product comes with a charger, to avoid confusion and facilitate choice.

European Press