The European Union has set a deadline of December 27, 2024 for system producers to change to USB-C for his or her information and charging ports, which implies that Apple goes to must abandon the iPhone Lightning connector in some unspecified time in the future earlier than then.

Whereas the EU’s determination had already been made, the date (by way of Engadget (opens in new tab)) is the brand new growth. It implies that the 2024 iPhone 16 will have the ability to get away with out USB-C, however the 2025 iPhone 17 goes to have to incorporate it.

There’s a loophole, which is that Apple may make the iPhone 17 utterly portless, so it will depend on Wi-Fi for information switch and wi-fi charging to juice up the battery. Gadgets that solely cost wirelessly are exempt from the EU’s new guidelines.

The clock is ticking

We’ve got already heard rumors that Apple is considering of switching the iPhone 15 over to USB-C for its port – or no less than the Professional fashions of the cellphone. Nevertheless, it is honest to say that we have heard the identical rumor for a number of successive iPhones at this level.

For laptop computer makers, the EU’s deadline is prolonged till April 2026. As well as, {hardware} corporations should guarantee that the identical charging velocity is out there it doesn’t matter what charger is used, to enhance compatibility.

This solely applies to the EU in fact, nevertheless it’s not going to be worthwhile for corporations like Apple to make one run of its merchandise with USB-C and one with out. It is now only a query of how lengthy we’ll have to attend to see a USB-C iPhone.

Evaluation: the street to USB-C

It has been a protracted street to the iPhone adopting USB-C. It is one thing we have been requesting for the reason that iPhone 12 in 2020, and rumors about Apple making the swap on its flagship handsets have been swirling for about so long as that as nicely.

Apple is in fact acquainted with the know-how: it already makes use of the usual in its MacBook ports and on its iPad gadgets. Even the entry-level iPad made the swap to USB-C earlier this 12 months, so it is solely the iPhones which are nonetheless utilizing the Lightning normal.

It is smart for Apple to change actually – at this level there’s not a lot of a motive to stay with its proprietary normal. Apple executives have publicly admitted that they’ll must adjust to no matter directive the EU units down.

We would be stunned if Apple waits till the iPhone 17 to introduce USB-C, however the iPhone 15 may simply be slightly too early. That is all hypothesis, however maybe the iPhone 16 – estimated time of arrival, September 2024 – would be the first to hold USB-C.

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