EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024

[ericwn]

Okay, in my house, I have lightning cables...
... on each bedside table in the master for me and my wife's phones
... on each of my kids' bedside tables
... in the guest bedroom
... in the TV room for airplaying
... in the kitchen (two actually for charging during the day)
... in each of our three cars
... and one I keep in a travel kit

I am not really looking forward to having to buy 13 new cables to charge my next upgrade after this helpful regulation takes affect. And the environmentalist in me will wonder how throwing away those 13 cables is a good thing...

I’m not sure how the environmentalist in you thought about acquiring 13 charging solutions and three cars in the first place

 

[fat jez]

You're confusing connector (USB type C) with data transfer protocols (USB 3.2 in its various flavors).

Just because a port or cable is USBC doesn't mean it's any faster than USB2.

Not really. I’m all too aware that usb-c the connector can still run at usb 2 speeds. I’ve had enough android phones like that where it was quicker to take the SD card out and put it in a usb3 reader to transfer files.

I’m being optimistic that Apple will implement usb3 speeds if changing to the usb-c connector.

 

[ericwn]

Lightning is significantly smaller than USB C and has proven to be much more durable. Usb c is a backward step for the iPhone.

I’ve had multiple lightning ports fail but never a usb c port, at least that’s my experience so far.

 

[mrochester]

I’ve had multiple lightning ports fail but never a usb c port, at least that’s my experience so far.

My experience has been that the USBC ports on my 2017 MBP started to become 'loose' where the cable stopped clicking into the port with an affirmative click.

Lighting, on the other hand, clicks into the port securely every time on every device I've owned.

 

[nerdo]

So two things, Lightning is horrible, it's extremely slow and outdated tech, so with any luck we can finally download pro-res video from our iphones at normal usb-c speeds. And none of the official lightning cables I own last more than a few years before they fall apart, so please save the' now I have to throw things away' silly nonsense, none of these cables last decades. And who says you need to throw things away? you are going to throw your iphone away with it? No? Sell it/give away? So you sell/give it without the cable?!?!

Loads of drama.

 

[ericwn]

Apple saying the hell with USB-C they going completely port less and they gonna to tell the EU to suck it. smh apple will win this battle

Doubt it and doubt it. And battle? Seriously?

 

[ericwn]

MR: Yeah, go trillion dollar company! Stick it to the EU government and its half a billion consumers.

This place does my head in sometimes.

Well said. Never miss the chance for a tribalistic article to stir up the outrage at real life.

 

[ericwn]

EU should have been focused on their energy future.

instead they are making sure the iPHone can't use lightning in 2025ish. meanwhile Apple probably already was on the road to replacing lightning with a magsafe charger or something.

Yeah, they can realistically only look into one thing at a time and not follow multiple initiatives…

 

[mrochester]

So two things, Lightning is horrible, it's extremely slow and outdated tech, so with any luck we can finally download pro-res video from our iphones at normal usb-c speeds. And none of the official lightning cables I own last more than a few years before they fall apart, so please save the' now I have to throw things away' silly nonsense, none of these cables last decades. And who says you need to throw things away? you are going to throw your iphone away with it? No? Sell it/give away? So you sell/give it without the cable?!?!

Loads of drama.

The shape of the connector doesn't relate to the speed of the connection. Apple may well implement USBC with USB2 speeds. Likewise, Apple could also implement lightning with USB3 speeds (as they did on 2017 iPad Pros). I think it's misguided to assume that USBC will mean USB 3 speeds.

I have lightning cables that are a decade old.

 

[I7guy]

Analysis paralysis. Too many models to choose from.

It’s designed for upsell, which is what shareholders want, but not customers. There’s a balance to be struck here and I think some customers would argue they’ve taken it too far over the last 2-3 years.

Some customers would argue over anything, but I believe most customers want choice.

 

[Devnul0]

Good, a couple more years before I have to replace my Lightning accessories. Not just cables, of which I have many, but a Shure microphone and an IR camera, both of which plug directly into the Lightning connector. Absolutely irritating to know I'm going to have to replace them for no good reason other than European politics.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I’m guessing he’s not.

Hence why I said he should be.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I presume they do USBC 3 on iPads because you need that to output to a second screen, which I also presume Apple doesn’t design or expect users to do with iPhones as thats not the use case.

But it still doesn't add up when you consider how hard Apple goes at marketing iPhones Pro as pro-level camera and video smartphones, perpetually increasing the size of the camera hardware as well as the possibilities to export photo and video in pro file formarts that take up more and more internal storage.

Why give us "pro" cameras on Pro iPhones but stick with I/O data transfer speeds that are well below the standard of your average non-"pro" smartphone?

Sure, recording ProRes to a 128GB iPhone is probably a bad idea to begin with which is why Apple has limited it to 256GB+ iPhones Pro.

But whether I get 1TB 14 Pro Max or a 16GB iPhone 5 from 2012, data transfer speeds are the same.

Lightning or USB-C, why won't Apple at-least put USB 3.0 data transfer speeds at the top of its price/value ladder for those that want to pay more and get an iPhone with a modern high-speed I/O?

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Color me skeptic, but it might be Apple themselves joining the lobbying group to persuade the legislation for USB-C. Apple has made a move to USB-C on their mac's and ipads, so they definitely have the plan to switch to USB-C. But lighting is already engrained to the consumer, so maybe Apple decided to let the regulators become the "bad guy."

"Our lovely consumers, we know you love our Lightning connector. However, those big bad politicians forced us to switch to USB-C. We're sorry, but please buy new devices and cables with USB-C, and also our MagSafe accessories from us so we can have another record breaking revenue. Thanks, Tim Cook."

Definitely this.

Apple can and will most likely turn this around to their own favour -Create a new kind of MFi program for USB-C and charging accessories that live up to Apple's specific requirements for charging and data, telling consumers they have to buy MFi USB-C products unless they want to risk damaging their iPhones.

Obviously, USB-C isn't proprietary. But that doesn't mean that Apple can't program in a little prompt that lets you know if the USB-C cable is certified or not.

Or they'll just push even harder by making MagSafe on USB-C iPhones significantly better than previous iterations and putting out several very attractive MagSafe-only accessories along the lines of AirPower.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I guess that means Apple will reduce the range of Phones offered for sale in the EU.

I am not in favour of the EU dictating a connector standard, it frankly is none of their business, the free market should be able to determine the sockes used. Now no one is going to develop a new faster better socket we are going to be stuck with USB-C for years.

I'd 100% agree, if we're talking the older Mini USB and Micro USB connectors, both of which have been denounced for their connector fragility. USB Type C connectors are a major step above in terms of durability, and unlike the earlier USB connectors, have no issues with reversibility. Besides, Apple doesn't need to implement the complex Type C connector used on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models; they could easily implement the less complex connector used by the iPad Air and iPad Mini models and still meet the EU requirements. Besides, with the newly-adopted Power Delivery 3.1 standard, it may allow Apple to even eventually ditch the MagSafe 3 charging connector on the current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (which may not be legal under the new EU regulations) in favor of an improved USB Type C connector that can support up to 240 watts initial charging rate, way more than needed for even the 16" MacBook Pro.

 

[FHoff]

Would be awesome if Apple just said FU and pulled out of selling in the EU.

 

[ericwn]

Would be awesome if Apple just said FU and pulled out of selling in the EU.

And for whom would that be awesome exactly, Apple loses business, shareholders lose value in their investment and end users are left to an Android market. All companies that produce this tech play within the same legal framework of regulations, this affects more than just Apple.

 

[AndiG]

Would be awesome if Apple just said FU and pulled out of selling in the EU.

Can you locate the EU on a map?
Do you know how many people live in the EU (440 million)?
Do you know that the EU is the largest economy in the world?

And least but not last, do you know that Apple itself knows that Lightning is a rotten and outdated port? Apple itself told everyone that an iPad Pro is in the need of USB-C when it was introduced in 2018.

Greed is the only reason why Apple hasn‘t implemented the USB-C standard in iPhones.

 

[maxsquared]

If Apple can sell eSim only phone in the US, they can also sell USB-C phones in the EU only.

 

[BaldiMac]

Can you locate the EU on a map?
Do you know how many people live in the EU (440 million)?
Do you know that the EU is the largest economy in the world?

I completely agree with your point here, but the EU is the third largest economy in the world behind the US and China. At least by GDP. Maybe you are referring to something else.

Greed is the only reason why Apple hasn‘t implemented the USB-C standard in iPhones.

That's silly. There are a whole lot more reasons to be conservative in making changes that one of the largest electronic ecosystems in the world than something that likely has a minor impact on their profits.

 

[SactoGuy18]

If Apple can sell eSim only phone in the US, they can also sell USB-C phones in the EU only.

Unlikely. Reason: RF certification. Cheaper to use one phone design to certification by national and extranational authorities.

 

[Princejb134]

Knowing Apple, they’ll probably come up with some ridiculously stubborn workaround involving dongles.

Theyll release usb c in europe and everywhere else gets lightning port lol

 

[I7guy]

Hence why I said he should be.

Hence my comment, he’s not.

 

[AndiG]

I completely agree with your point here, but the EU is the third largest economy in the world behind the US and China. At least by GDP. Maybe you are referring to something else.


That's silly. There are a whole lot more reasons to be conservative in making changes that one of the largest electronic ecosystems in the world than something that likely has a minor impact on their profits.

yeah - Apple turned into a silly company. Apple has an iron grip on Ligthning through MFI, it doesn‘t want to loose. MFI is a cash cow. Not matter if you want to create an accessory with a wired connection or Bluetooth, you need to be part of Apples MFI program. BLE is free, but only GATT services.

Apple created a cash cow this way, it doesn‘t want to loose. USB-C is a standard and this is why Apple doesn‘t like it. Everyone can build USB-C cables, wholy s**t!! If you want to build Ligthning cables you have to be a certified Apple partner and you have to buy chips from Apple to identify as a valid cable.

 

[BaldiMac]

yeah - Apple turned into a silly company. Apple has an iron grip on Ligthning through MFI, it doesn‘t want to loose. MFI is a cash cow. Not matter if you want to create an accessory with a wired connection or Bluetooth, you need to be part of Apples MFI program. BLE is free, but only GATT services.

Apple created a cash cow this way, it doesn‘t want to loose. USB-C is a standard and this is why Apple doesn‘t like it. Everyone can build USB-C cables, wholy s**t!! If you want to build Ligthning cables you have to be a certified Apple partner and you have to buy chips from Apple to identify as a valid cable.

MFi isn't going away when they switch to USB-C. It already includes non-lightning accessories. The "cash cow" isn't in danger.

I just think your claim of greed is reductive. Of course a business has a profit motive. But they upgrade to more expensive technologies all the time, so obviously other factors are involved.