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

[fat jez]

Work with Lightning accessories.



What about owning Lightning accessories? A switch to USB-C would require users to replace those (cost!) and to most, for no benefit in return.

That’s a major inconvenience, but it’s not what I’d call a technical advantage of lightning over usb-c.

So far I think we’ve only had lightning appearing to offer a more secure connection, something I’d agree with after a usb-c connection on an Android phone I owned became loose and would disconnect if not kept still.

 

[fat jez]

In the grand scheme, chucking away a few good cables isn’t a massive thing and in all likelihood, you or I will have family members who don’t swap phones like we do and will gratefully take old cables.

I’ve had Apple devices that have outlasted the cables I owned for them! So I expect I’m going to have to replace cables at some point anyway.

Probably worth noting that this is not going to make existing charters obsolete. Apple chargers come with either usb-a or usb-c connectors already. There’s plenty of usb-c cables out there where the charger end is either usb-a or usb-c, it’s only the socket on the device that the EU are saying must change and only for anything released after the cut off date. Selling anything released before this date that still uses lightning won’t be illegal.

 

[ericwn]

The Lightning connector is only two years older than USB-C. Is USB-C going to be “outdated” in two years’ time, too? The EU legislators better get cracking on the next mandate then…

Anything proprietary is an outdated concept for chargers. Especially when it’s being kept at low speed performance as well. What’s by now really outdated is the concept of having multiple power chords lying around a room and that one has to check for the connector type to charge a smart device with, in 2022. Simplify. Ease of use, where have I heard that before…

 

[BaldiMac]

Anything proprietary is an outdated concept for chargers. Especially when it’s being kept at low speed performance as well. What’s by now really outdated is the concept of having multiple power chords lying around a room and that one has to check for the connector type to charge a smart device with, in 2022. Simplify. Ease of use, where have I heard that before…

Now we'll have multiple USB-C cables lying around where you have to guess what they can do. You can't even just look at them to check. I don't see that as an improvement.

 

[ericwn]

Now we'll have multiple USB-C cables lying around where you have to guess what they can do. You can't even just look at them to check. I don't see that as an improvement.

In the majority of my use cases I charge with them. Blindly being able to grab one cable vs having to close inspect the connector type is an improvement for me. The one with a high data transfer rate I would likely have at my Mac. Which, even if I pick a slower one, given what lightning can do, is still delivering better performance.

 

[BaldiMac]

In the majority of my use cases I charge with them. Blindly being able to grab one cable va having to close inspect the connector type is an improvement for me. The one with a high data transfer rate I would likely have at my Mac. Which, given what lightning can do, is still delivering better performance.

I don't think that blindly grabbing cables is a significant use case, especially going forward. Personally, I just set my phone on a wireless charger. I'd guess most people have specific charging setups and don't spend much time thinking about it at all.

 

[deeddawg]

I don't think that blindly grabbing cables is a significant use case, especially going forward. Personally, I just set my phone on a wireless charger. I'd guess most people have specific charging setups and don't spend much time thinking about it at all.

Similarly my phone predominantly charges from a Qi pad whether at my desk, in the kitchen, or nightstand. I also can't recall the last time I ever transferred any data to/from my phone via cable but I guess some folks still do.

As for having to closely inspect a cable's connector type though? I don't get it. Even with my not so great eyesight it's easy to discern a micro-B from Lightning from USBC at arm's length. Even more so at the spots where the lightning cable is white and the others are black.

 

[fat jez]

As for having to closely inspect a cable's connector type though? I don't get it. Even with my not so great eyesight it's easy to discern a micro-B from Lightning from USBC at arm's length. Even more so at the spots where the lightning cable is white and the others are black.

I think it’s a reference to what the power and data capabilities of a usb-c cable are. You can transfer over 100W at up to 40Gbps or the cable might only do usb2 rates. It’s the major downside of the usb-c connector, it gives no real clue what the cable supports.

 

[InuNacho]

Similarly my phone predominantly charges from a Qi pad whether at my desk, in the kitchen, or nightstand. I also can't recall the last time I ever transferred any data to/from my phone via cable but I guess some folks still do.

As for having to closely inspect a cable's connector type though? I don't get it. Even with my not so great eyesight it's easy to discern a micro-B from Lightning from USBC at arm's length. Even more so at the spots where the lightning cable is white and the others are black.

Yes I'm "one of those folks that still do". I have an ecommerce business and ebay is my main platform for selling. Even though I have a fancy camera, the camera in my S22 Ultra is perfect with its manual and already JPG settings. Also alot less bulky and pulls off Macros perfectly.
Click click click and transfer 300+ images for the day.

 

[ric275]

Terrible news. This will stifle innovation and competition. For example, it will limit the desire to create connectors that are more efficient, faster, cheaper, easier to use than USB-C.

It will also increase costs for everyone because USB-C is significantly more expensive to implement than micro-USB or USB-A for cheap devices.

In addition, now we have to throw away countless e-waste from lightning cables, lightning chargers, and lightning accessories. It's not just lightning. There is even more e-waste coming from micro-USB and USB-A.

Once again, EU government is stepping into things that they shouldn't have. Thanks to them, I've had to click on cookie prompts at least 10,000 times already and I honestly could careless if websites used cookies.

I'm not against Apple using USB-C on all your devices. They're slowly getting there regardless. I'm against this kind of regulation because it will have unintended consequences.

I also worry for the reasons you outlined. I love USB-C and I want it on all my devices, but will we be stuck with it forever now? The optimist in me is hoping that the tech companies will work together on the successor to USB-C and it won’t be a problem, but I can also see a scary reality where we are living with USB-C in 2050 because of govt intervention. Time will tell.

 

[dotnet]

Anything proprietary is an outdated concept for chargers. Especially when it’s being kept at low speed performance as well. What’s by now really outdated is the concept of having multiple power chords lying around a room and that one has to check for the connector type to charge a smart device with, in 2022. Simplify. Ease of use, where have I heard that before…

I’m not opposed to USB-C by any means. Neither apparently is Apple, if you cast your eye over their product lines, past and present.

What rankles me is the duplicitous line of argumentation brought forward by the EC. They claim to reduce e-waste and cost to consumers, when really they will be creating a mountain of e-waste while solving problems the vast majority of people simply don’t have, and forcing an additional accessory transition upon consumers.

And before you say bandwidth, I can’t remember the last time I used a Lightning cable to transfer data, it would have been several iPhones ago. These things are done wirelessly in this day and age by most people, seamlessly and transparently.

In a few years’ time wireless technology (both data and power) will have advanced sufficiently to completely eliminate ports, even for people who routinely need to transfer huge media projects or need to charge in seconds. The responsible thing to do (from an e-waste and consumer cost point of view) would have been to allow Apple catching that cross-over point and doing a transition from Lightning to port-less, rather than forcing a transition from Lightning to USB-C to port-less.

But who knows, the deadline is two years away, wireless may have evolved sufficiently by then to support the jump straight to port-less for the post-2024 iPhones. Perhaps even sooner.

 

[dave070]

Work with Lightning accessories.



What about owning Lightning accessories? A switch to USB-C would require users to replace those (cost!) and to most, for no benefit in return.

There was always going to be a transition away from Lightning at some point.

 

[deeddawg]

Yes I'm "one of those folks that still do". I have an ecommerce business and ebay is my main platform for selling. Even though I have a fancy camera, the camera in my S22 Ultra is perfect with its manual and already JPG settings. Also alot less bulky and pulls off Macros perfectly.
Click click click and transfer 300+ images for the day.

Yes, in circumstances like yours a smartphone camera is as good as a dedicated camera and often more convenient.

That said, all my iphone photos show up on my MBP via icloud automatically, so I've had no need for wired transfers.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

Then why do you care that 3rd party cables are 75% cheaper? You never have to buy a Lightning charging cable, they’re always included with the phone.

Because, Apple being cheap and greedy always include the shortest possible cable in the world. It’s no use to anyone. 2m cable as standard would be good.

 

[deeddawg]

Because, Apple being cheap and greedy always include the shortest possible cable in the world. It’s no use to anyone. 2m cable as standard would be good.

So how come they offer a 0.5m cable but include a 1m cable?

 

[mrochester]

So how come they offer a 0.5m cable but include a 1m cable?

I can imagine the reply you’ll get is that they shouldn’t even make a 0.5m cable and that the minimum should be 1m. And let’s get the EU to regulate cable length for good measure.

 

[fat jez]

The EU can do that if they wish. It’s their market. Just limits what can be sold in that market, it doesn’t prevent 0.5m cables being sold in the rest of the world.

Hypothetically of course.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

So how come they offer a 0.5m cable but include a 1m cable?

Couldn’t remember off the top of my head which one they included in the box but either way both of those cables are still too short. 2m minimum.

 

[mrochester]

Couldn’t remember off the top of my head which one they included in the box but either way both of those cables are still too short. 2m minimum.

We need to get the EU regulators on the case. I think it should be 10m minimum.

 

[deeddawg]

Couldn’t remember off the top of my head which one they included in the box but either way both of those cables are still too short. 2m minimum.

That may be true for your situation, but 2m is way too long for most of my needs and even 1m is often too long.

Fortunately cables are available in all sorts of lengths from 10cm to over 3m.

 

[fat jez]

That may be true for your situation, but 2m is way too long for most of my needs and even 1m is often too long.

Fortunately cables are available in all sorts of lengths from 10cm to over 3m.

Indeed. From L to R, laptop (usb-c), iPhone mag safe, iPad mini (usb-a to lightning, 30cm), work phone (usb-a to micro usb).

 

[UK-MacAddict]

That may be true for your situation, but 2m is way too long for most of my needs and even 1m is often too long.

Fortunately cables are available in all sorts of lengths from 10cm to over 3m.

Well at least if 2m was supplied as standard it serves a broader range of customer.

Those such as yourself have the option to use cable ties etc to shorten the length to what you require.

With the short cables supplied I don’t have the option to stretch it out.

 

[deeddawg]

Well at least if 2m was supplied as standard it serves a broader range of customer.

Those such as yourself have the option to use cable ties etc to shorten the length to what you require.

With the short cables supplied I don’t have the option to stretch it out.

and junk up my counter and desk with rats nests of excess coiled cord?

No thank you.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

and junk up my counter and desk with rats nests of excess coiled cord?

No thank you.

You wouldn’t bunch up the cable to sit on the desk you do it lower down closer to the plug to hide behind a desk.

 

[deeddawg]

You wouldn’t bunch up the cable to sit on the desk you do it lower down closer to the plug to hide behind a desk.

Mains outlets are atop the desk so they're readily accessible to the variety of different camera and other battery chargers, and I also use multiport USB chargers since I tend to have a lot of gadgets to keep charged. Bicycle headlight, tail light, radar, bike computer, work bluetooth headset, phone, Qi stand, BT headphones for running, etc.

In the kitchen the mains outlet is above the side counter, with inbuilt USB charge ports, and there's no place to stash excess cable out of view.

If you hadn't yet noticed, different folks have different situations.

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