Apple will be forced to equip its iPhones with USB-C ports by 2024 after a new European Union regulation has just passed.
According to Digitaltrends, the European Parliament has passed a regulation mandating a universal charger for all electronic devices sold in the bloc to reduce e-waste, including smartphones and tablets. While most smartphones and tablets currently sold in the EU use USB-C, Apple’s iPhone does not.
With the new rule, the iPhone will have to eliminate Lightning to switch to USB-C by 2024. Before that, the iPad Pro and MacBook lines were implemented by Apple with USB-C ports.
In a press release, the Commission said: “Common chargers will eventually become a reality in Europe. We waited over 10 years for these rules and finally got rid of countless current chargers. This future-proof law allows for the development of innovative charging solutions, and it will benefit everyone – from the consumers to our environment.”
Although the rule only applies in the EU, Apple will have two options: design the iPhone with USB-C specifically for the EU, or adopt USB-C on iPhones sold worldwide. The latter option is likely to be chosen, especially when politicians in the US and India also aim for a similar request.
iPhones have used Apple’s proprietary Lightning cable since the iPhone 5 was released in 2012. Apple used it on iPads the same year before switching to USB-C for both iPads and MacBooks a few years ago. There have been reports that Apple is working to create a truly wireless iPhone that doesn’t need Lightning or USB-C, but it’s still unclear if this product will come out before the company switches to USB-C. Are not.