After long campaigns, negotiations and procrastination, the European Union has finally approved a law by which it could force Apple to adopt the standard USB-C connection port on its iPhone devices by the fall of 2024, at the expense of the ‘current. . Flash.
Negotiations resulted in a provisional agreement on changes to the Radio Equipment Directive which will make USB-C the common charging port for all EU mobile phones, as well as laptops, tabletsdigital cameras, consoles and other electronic devices.
Apple has yet to release an official statement regarding the news, but the timing of the decision could work in its favor. Ming-Chi Kuo claimed last month that the company is already planning to switch from Lightning to USB-C, and will do so in 2023.
In other words, the iPhone 14 it could be the last Lightning iPhone. We will leave doubts next September, when Apple will probably present its new iPhone, even if few analysts expect this change in the next iPhones.
Of course, Apple has other alternative options, such as the right to appeal to save time. Few tech companies have access to such extensive legal, political and financial resources. However, the The EU seems to have made a final decision.
Given that the decision only applies to the EU, Apple could create two versions of its iPhones from 2024, with USB-C models sold in Europe and Lightning in the rest of the world, but that seems like little. likely given the logistical burden involved. impose on the supply chain.
An alternative approach would be to skip the USB-C step and go straight to a device without a charging connector and everything is done by wireless charging. For a long time there has been speculation about this option and its advantages in ensuring maximum tightness.
However, the wireless charging that Apple promotes with its proprietary MagSafe technology is much slower and less efficient than wireless charging. wired chargingwith the added bonus that many users love having the ability to connect wired headphones.
It must be remembered that business has a long way to go. Your device family MacBook there iPad They already have this type of connector, so they would only have to emulate a technology already present in other products.
The step taken today by the European Parliament began in 2014 when it called for a common charger standard that all mobile phones had to use.
It was followed by a January 2020 resolution calling on the European Commission to adopt such a standard as a matter of urgency to avoid further market fragmentation. legislation approved now It was proposed in September last year.