Apple Reportedly Planning to Limit iPhone 15's USB-C Port in the Same Way as Lightning

[iOS Geek]

USB-C is a standard for the port, shape and pin layout, it has nothing to do with the data protocol, or charging standards. You could have a USB-C port that doesn’t support USB at all only Thunderbolt, or only USB 2, or charging only. And the EU regulation states that it only needs to support charging, think about all the chargeable devices that don’t have data that have to follow this regulation.

Exactly. It's amazing how on a tech site, so many people don't seem to really understand anything about USB-C. I have multiple USB-C cables. Each of them has different capabilities. Some have capabilities the others don't have AT ALL. USB-C can honestly be quite a mess if you're not paying attention to what you're buying.

Since the EU regulation only mentions charging (as you mentioned) that pretty much invalidates most of the outrage people are showing here about how the EU needs to slap Apple over this. Maybe the EU should have been more specific in their regulations. You know...maybe make sure all bases are covered, first! They demanded USB-C charging...so that's EXACTLY what they're getting. When regulation demands the bare minimum, don't be surprised when you get the bare minimum! And the funny thing is now that it's legislated...it's going to take forever to "update" it to include everything the people here say it should. Legislation is not known for speed. People wanted legislation...they got it. Complete with the glacial pace it'll take to make changes.

 

[jlc1978]

That completely goes against the purpose of the EU’s law and I would expect them to be fined for it.

What a gross, bad, anti-consumer choice it would be. *If* apple actually does it

Hardly. They are 100% compliance even if they do what is rumored.

Exactly. It's amazing how on a tech site, so many people don't seem to really understand anything about USB-C. I have multiple USB-C cables. Each of them has different capabilities. Some have capabilities the others don't have AT ALL. USB-C can honestly be quite a mess if you're not paying attention to what you're buying.

This is the internet. We have a right to be outraged over anything we choose; no matter what.

Since the EU regulation only mentions charging (as you mentioned) that pretty much invalidates most of the outrage people are showing here about how the EU needs to slap Apple over this. Maybe the EU should have been more specific in their regulations. You know...maybe make sure all bases are covered, first! They demanded USB-C charging...so that's EXACTLY what they're getting. When regulation demands the bare minimum, don't be surprised when you get the bare minimum! And the funny thing is now that it's legislated...it's going to take forever to "update" it to include everything the people here say it should. Legislation is not known for speed. People wanted legislation...they got it. Complete with the glacial pace it'll take to make changes.

The EU regulation was crafted so as to allow further development of USB-C while mandating a minimum common charging standards. Had they attempted to define the entire charge and data requirements and not allow added capabilities the EU would be stuck with an outdated charge/data capability in the future; while USB would evolve to new standards as USB 5, 6, etc..

The EU's goal was a common minimal capability to ensure a common charger cable could be used across multiple devices.

 

[Naraxus]

There is no loophole. The EU set a minimum charging requirement and allowed manufactures to include any additional features they wanted as long as the minimum requirements are met. It would not surprise me to see other manufacturers doing similar things to differentiate their products from Apple and other competitors.

I never said there was a loophole.

 

[aidler]

<satire> All of this is true innovation to make the world a better place. I expect nothing less of Apple in 2023. Thanks Tim.</satire>

 

[jlc1978]

I never said there was a loophole.

Uh:
You make the initial law and then subsequently close any loopholes and clarify the original law, again, through legislation

I agree there is no loophole, though. The directive accomplishes the EU goals and they specifically allowed for enhancements.

 

[Damian83]

if it will really happen, ill seriously think to switch for the first time to android, and maybe even back to windows. ill not give even one cent more to that idiot

 

[Naraxus]

Uh:
You make the initial law and then subsequently close any loopholes and clarify the original law, again, through legislation

I agree there is no loophole, though. The directive accomplishes the EU goals and they specifically allowed for enhancements.

I said "subsequently close any loopholes" which is different than "subsequently close the loopholes" but I should have clarified.

Unfortunately, if bureaucracy has taught me anything, it is that if there's a loophole, they will find it

 

[patent10021]

I doubt it. Are they so eager to get an extra 30 from every customer?

Mr. $1000 Pro Stand please rise. Do you swear that the evidence you shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Someone made it happen with no limitations 🙌🏻

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624483576048717824

 

[kwikdeth]

Relax…you will be able to have wired charging with any USB-C cable.

Well, yeah, of course it will work... But with a reminder message every time that it's not an Apple certified cable, unless it's a $29 mfi cable. I can use any USB-C cable with my OnePlus but it doesn't give me a guilt trip every time I do it.

 

[jlc1978]

I said "subsequently close any loopholes" which is different than "subsequently close the loopholes" but I should have clarified.

No worries.

Unfortunately, if bureaucracy has taught me anything, it is that if there's a loophole, they will find it

Truer words never written.

 

[Muzzakus]

Courage, to scam customers

 

[darngooddesign]

Well, yeah, of course it will work... But with a reminder message every time that it's not an Apple certified cable, unless it's a $29 mfi cable. I can use any USB-C cable with my OnePlus but it doesn't give me a guilt trip every time I do it.

Does any current iDevice alert you like that?

 

[TheDauterive]

i look forward to Tim launching this in the fall: “Introducing…the spite port.”

 

[jdoyle]

******* move Apple.....

 

[urbanman2004]

This should be of no surprise to consumers who have been following Apple since the release of the first iPod, or at least the first iPhone.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Let the class action suits begin.
(Also I think this story is fake.)

Class action against what? Even if the story is true.

 

[johnnytravels]

While I think it’s stupid and Apple would portray itself as a petty cash-grabbing greedy mega corp in a way that is almost comically close to satirical renditions of petty cash-grabbing greedy mega corps if this were true, I for one am happy that I can pack only one cable for charging multiple devices. If that’s the cable that comes with the iPhone, so be it (I just hope they won’t be so stupid as to not pack a USB C cable in with every iPhone AND show a nag screen if you don’t use an original cable, I think that wouldn’t fly with customers).

 

[mrochester]

While I think it’s stupid and Apple would portray itself as a petty cash-grabbing greedy mega corp in a way that is almost comically close to satirical renditions of petty cash-grabbing greedy mega corps if this were true, I for one am happy that I can pack only one cable for charging multiple devices. If that’s the cable that comes with the iPhone, so be it (I just hope they won’t be so stupid as to not pack a USB C cable in with every iPhone AND show a nag screen if you don’t use an original cable, I think that wouldn’t fly with customers).

Surely one of the key purposes of switching to USBC is so that phone manufactueres can remove cables from the box?

 

[Abazigal]

Surely one of the key purposes of switching to USBC is so that phone manufactueres can remove cables from the box?

That does seem to be the next logical step, but I suspect phone OEMs are, as usual, waiting for Apple to make the first move (and thus absorb all the hate) before doing it themselves.

 

[TechnoMonk]

While I think it’s stupid and Apple would portray itself as a petty cash-grabbing greedy mega corp in a way that is almost comically close to satirical renditions of petty cash-grabbing greedy mega corps if this were true, I for one am happy that I can pack only one cable for charging multiple devices. If that’s the cable that comes with the iPhone, so be it (I just hope they won’t be so stupid as to not pack a USB C cable in with every iPhone AND show a nag screen if you don’t use an original cable, I think that wouldn’t fly with customers).

I am yet to survive packing one cable for multiple devices when travelling. My USB C cable is used mostly for Mac Book pro, with a shorter time with iPad Pro. I can barely get enough time to charge iPad Pro sharing the cable. I cant imagine using it to charge iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro. I just plug the iphone charging cable to MB pro USB port.
Honestly, I have yet to see some one who travels to work regularly packing one cable, even if they are same type for phone, tablet and laptop.

 

[cyanite]

Since the EU regulation only mentions charging (as you mentioned) that pretty much invalidates most of the outrage people are showing here about how the EU needs to slap Apple over this. Maybe the EU should have been more specific in their regulations

While only about charging, it IS more specific. It details demands on USB PD support, so you’re not allowed to limit certain charging speeds.

Surely one of the key purposes of switching to USBC is so that phone manufactueres can remove cables from the box?

Yes, this is sort of encouraged (although optional) by the EU legislation.

 

[cyanite]

Hope they add usb-pd charging

It’s mandatory in the EU legislation.

Also with the large raw images would be nice to be able to transfer them at usb c speeds.

You mean USB 3 speeds. But yeah, there is no EU regulation on that part.

 

[3530025]

I have yet to see some one who travels to work regularly packing one cable, even if they are same type for phone, tablet and laptop.

That's exactly me. I carry USB-C charger that came with my MacBook Pro and I'm charging MacBook, iPad, my Android phone (yes, I'm waiting for usb-c before switching back to iPhone), Sony headphones (not airpods because again lightning) and powerbank.

And it's fine, because I'm not using all devices at once and I'm not using them all the time.

 

[TechnoMonk]

That's exactly me. I carry USB-C charger that came with my MacBook Pro and I'm charging MacBook, iPad, my Android phone (yes, I'm waiting for usb-c before switching back to iPhone), Sony headphones (not airpods because again lightning) and powerbank.

And it's fine, because I'm not using all devices at once and I'm not using them all the time.

Yeah. I and many consultants I travel with use multiple devices, and the guys with Windows laptops cant even afford to disconnect the laptop charging. The performance of windows laptop drops considerably with out it being plugged in to power.
And I hope this whole USB C experiment ends sooner than later, and world moves on to more realistic and reliable standard. Lot of promise about common standard for data transfer, charging, but very little consistency and absolute mess in the real world.