EU Law That Could Force the iPhone to Switch to USB-C to Be Presented Next Month

[MacRumors]

Apple may be forced to remove the Lightning port from the iPhone in favor of USB-C, according to legislation expected be presented by the European Commission next month, Reuters reports.

The legislation would establish a common charging port for all mobile phones and other relevant devices in all European Union countries. The move is expected to primarily affect Apple, since many popular Android devices already feature USB-C ports.

In 2018, the European Commission tried to reach a final resolution on the issue but it failed to come into law. At the time, Apple warned that forcing a common charging port on the industry would stifle innovation and create electronic waste as consumers were forced to switch to new cables.

• The EU Wants All Phones to Work With Interoperable Chargers, Here’s What That Means for Apple's Lightning Port

A European Commission impact assessment study conducted in 2019 found that half of all charging cables sold with mobile phones had a USB micro-B connector, 29 percent had a USB-C connector, and 21 percent had a Lightning connector. The study suggested five options for a common charger, with various options that cover ports on devices and ports on power adapters.

Last year, the debate was reignited as the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor of a common charger, citing less environmental waste and user convenience as the main benefits.

The executive branch of the European Union is currently drafting the legislation, according to sources speaking to Reuters, which is expected to be presented next month.

Article Link: EU Law That Could Force the iPhone to Switch to USB-C to Be Presented Next Month

 

[Serban55]

They already tried once....and now its too late, the iphone is 1 month away, it will not have usbC this year

 

[happydude]

this would be great overall, though with flexibility for a new standard to be allowed as things progress. All in favor of standardized plug in systems - reduces e-waste and opens up competition for companies to make compatible cords. apple wasn't too concerned about their e-waste claim when they've changed their cords before. hollow argument by them.

 

[Berti10]

Great, then I have to buy all the Cables I collected since 2012 all over again. 🙄

 

[Berti10]

This bill should only prevent new connectors from being introduced.

 

[kerr]

I like Lightning but I'd be happier only having to use USB-C to USB-C cables

 

[Wanted797]

And like that Apple will drop the port entirely.

Annnd we’ll also be stuck on USB-c for more than a decade due to a law that will become outdated.

 

[macdos]

Apple can talk the talk, but they never walk the walk. At the very core of their "business model" is incompatiblity with the world at large. Just like the rest of the US with its miles, ounces and gallons.

 

[Robert.Walter]

This bill should only prevent new connectors from being introduced.

Recipe for stagnation, technical lockout and terrible workarounds.

 

[falkon-engine]

The iPhone is the last high performance computing device in my house that uses lightning. Everything else is on usb-c. My work computer, my MacBook Pro, android devices, and even the iPad Pro. It would be nice to just have one cable type (usb-c) for all my devices.

 

[Sandstorm]

Better late than never. Shame that Apple didn't work together with the industry from the very beginning on a unified standard. Imagine how much nicer the situation would be today, ALL cables compatible, reversible, both ends the same.

 

[tobybrut]

Did they do a study for how much e-waste would be generated by forcing 2/3 of all phones to switch to USB-C? If half of all phones had USB micro-B and more than a fifth have Lightning, how many of those accessories, cables, and chargers would end up in landfills because they can no longer use them with new phones? It seems to me they'd generate a lot less e-waste by forcing people to USB micro-B, though I doubt anyone would want that since it's a terrible connector.

The natural solution would be to leave things alone and stop forcing people to change if they don't want to.

 

[LukeHarrison]

Was this not raised before and it was found that they could get around this law by including an adapter in the box? Not the best solution and I can see the benefit of USB-C but Lightning is just a better connector. I don't know all the tech specs and how they compare, but physically Lightning is far better and more robust.

Just don't use Apple cables. 😄

 

[napabar]

Apple can talk the talk, but they never walk the walk. At the very core of their "business model" is incompatiblity with the world at large. Just like the rest of the US with its miles, ounces and gallons.

****YAWN**** You're in the wrong forum. Better head over to the Android news sites.

 

[genovelle]

Apple can talk the talk, but they never walk the walk. At the very core of their "business model" is incompatiblity with the world at large. Just like the rest of the US with its miles, ounces and gallons.

Their business model is having unique technology with capabilities that allow them to better compete and win and keep customers. If there are billions of users who like their lightning cables what’s the Problem I hate having usb-c because I can’t use my lightning headphones on my New iPad now.

 

[thadoggfather]

It aint happening

 

[citysnaps]

Apple can talk the talk, but they never walk the walk. At the very core of their "business model" is incompatiblity with the world at large. Just like the rest of the US with its miles, ounces and gallons.

And, no matter where you live (almost), Earth continues to rotate on its axis into the Sun's light rays. Every. Single. Day.

Life goes on. Even with Apple using Lightning connection for iPhone.

 

[LFC2020]

Go port less already.

 

[napabar]

Did they do a study for how much e-waste would be generated by forcing 2/3 of all phones to switch to USB-C? If half of all phones had USB micro-B and more than a fifth have Lightning, how many of those accessories, cables, and chargers would end up in landfills because they can no longer use them with new phones? It seems to me they'd generate a lot less e-waste by forcing people to USB micro-B, though I doubt anyone would want that since it's a terrible connector.

The natural solution would be to leave things alone and stop forcing people to change if they don't want to.

Please stop making sense. These Euro-bureaucrats can't comprehend such logic.

 

[BC2009]

I think the move to usb-c is inevitable for iPhone now that iPad Pro went that way. What I don’t like is a law that forces companies to use a specific connection. It makes it impossible to move off that when something better becomes available. The only reason lightning exists is that Apple could not get the usb-c standardization process to move fast enough and they needed a smaller reversible connector for their iPhone 5. So lightning was born. And suddenly that caused the standardization committee to get off their collective butts because the reps on the committee from Apple’s competitors wanted a tiny reversible port like Apple now had.

If this law existed 10 years ago we’d probably all be using micro-USB still with usb-c being stuck in committee.

 

[applesith]

With everything going on in Europe and the world, this is exactly what governments should be dictating

 

[Freida]

How is it better?

Was this not raised before and it was found that they could get around this law by including an adapter in the box? Not the best solution and I can see the benefit of USB-C but Lightning is just a better connector. I don't know all the tech specs and how they compare, but physically Lightning is far better and more robust.

Just don't use Apple cables. 😄

 

[contacos]

Yes please. Drives me nuts having to carry multiple chargers for iPad, iPhone now as well as different plugs cuz they don’t fit each other either!

 

[citysnaps]

If this law existed 10 years ago we’d probably all be using micro-USB still with usb-c being stuck in committee.

And millions being stuck with flaky connections.

 

[ksec]

this would be great overall, though with flexibility for a new standard to be allowed as things progress. All in favor of standardized plug in systems - reduces e-waste and opens up competition for companies to make compatible cords. apple wasn't too concerned about their e-waste claim when they've changed their cords before. hollow argument by them.

Let's be fair they have shipped over 1.5B iPhone, or more than 2B Lightning cable since they switched cords. The scale is quite different.