It was inevitable, actually, however following the EU’s laws requiring USB-C to develop into the frequent charging customary, Apple has now confirmed that it’ll adjust to the regulation, and change from Lightning to USB-C on future iPhones.

Greg Joswiak (Apple’s senior vice chairman of worldwide advertising and marketing) mentioned as a lot in a Wall Avenue Journal video interview (opens in new tab), confirming that “clearly, we’ll must comply.”

Joswiak didn’t say precisely when that change will happen, because the regulation doesn’t come into play till 2024, so it’s doable that the iPhone 15 will nonetheless have Lightning, however equally Apple won’t wait round to make the inevitable change, and, certainly, it has been rumored that the iPhone 15 will use USB-C when it arrives subsequent 12 months.

Apple’s Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) be part of @JoannaStern at #WSJTechLive to debate merchandise, privateness and energy on the tech big https://t.co/fNo2JGwMB4 https://t.co/aGrTlZrUo4October 26, 2022

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Joswiak additionally wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not this modification will apply globally or simply in Europe, so there’s nonetheless some uncertainty.

It’s clear from the interview although that this isn’t a change the corporate is eager to make. Regardless of having switched to USB-C for iPads and Macs, Joswiak famous that shifting iPhones to USB-C will create numerous e-waste, for the reason that billions of Lightning cables around the globe will now not be useable with future merchandise.

He believes that by making the cables detachable from the ability brick (in an effort to join the cable of your option to the brick), Apple had struck stability that doesn’t inconvenience prospects, and that this compelled transfer to USB-C isn’t the most effective factor for many of its prospects.

He additionally identified that governments tried to standardize micro-USB connectors prior to now, and that if that had occurred there would have possible been no Lightning cable or USB-C – each of that are superior to micro-USB.

All of that are affordable factors, however with Apple’s transfer to USB-C on different merchandise, the rising recognition of wi-fi charging, and rumors of a portless iPhone, it looks like Lightning’s days had been in all probability numbered with or with out the EU’s interference.

Evaluation: count on USB-C globally

Whereas Joswiak wouldn’t say whether or not future iPhones may even change to USB-C within the US and different areas exterior the EU, it appears very possible that they are going to.

His level about e-waste may imply we nonetheless see Lightning elsewhere, to be able to reduce the variety of unusable Lightning cables, however growing and producing iPhones with completely different ports for various areas looks like it will create a degree of value and trouble that could possibly be averted with a worldwide change.

Plus, as famous above, the times of Lightning ports are in all probability numbered anyway. E-waste apart, Joswiak’s points appear to primarily be concerning the standardization of USB-C, relatively than on the iPhone having a USB-C port. So earlier than lengthy all the greatest telephones will possible have the identical charging port.