The European Parliament with the move that the tech world has been waiting for months. It was decided that the manufacturers who have not put USB-C port in their smartphones must put a new universal port. This is a big change for manufacturers like Apple, who haven’t put a USB-C port on their phones.
EU law says Apple must switch iPhones to USB-C ports by the end of 2024 or stop selling them in Europe. This move is in view of the increasing threat of e-waste. Most of the e-waste is old unused chargers and cables. To control this kind of waste, the decision has been made to reuse old chargers using a common port on phones from major manufacturers.
When will Apple switch the iPhone to a USB-C port?
Although these laws have received strong support, they have not been officially adopted. Even if the law does not come into force until it is signed by the European Council, things are almost set. However, Apple will have two years to make this change. Apple must include a USB-C port in every iPhone released after 2024 if it wants to continue selling in Europe. But Apple, which launches new models every year, will launch the iPhone 15 in 2023 and the iPhone 16 in September 2024 unchanged.
Apple is legally required to include a USB-C port from the iPhone 17, which will be released in September 2025. But by then there were doubts whether the unsold Lightning-powered iPhone 15 and 16 models would agree to be sold in Europe. But these are allowed to be sold. According to the report given by The Verge in connection with the press release, the manufacturers who put the USB-C port before the deadline can finish selling the phones with the old port. The announcement contradicts earlier reports in June that such devices could not be sold.
That said, the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 don’t need to bring a USB-C port. As things stand, Apple doesn’t require USB-C ports on devices up to the iPhone 17. So Apple can continue to sell iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 with Lightning port after 2024 without making this change.
But according to reports, Apple has started testing Type C ports on the iPhone and it may be implemented from the iPhone 15, although not necessarily. Well-known Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman confirm this. But Apple’s iPad Pro models use the Type-C port, so it can’t be said that this is a completely new change for Apple. However, whether to make this change for models prior to the iPhone 17 is Apple’s sole decision.
How will users be affected?
If Apple switches to a Type-C port starting with the iPhone 15, buyers will no longer have to hunt for a new charger. Similarly, there is no need to carry a separate charger just for the iPhone when traveling with multiple devices.
This rule applies to all electronic devices, not just phones. Tablets, headphones, and computer accessories such as keyboards and mice will also use the USB-C port in Europe. But they have been given a deadline of 2026 to switch to USB-C port.