Apple now confirms that future iPhones will have USB-C in some places at least. This confirmation could have as well spelled the end of lightning.
Apple Now Confirms That Future iPhones Will Have USB-C
It was really inevitable, but following the ruling requiring USB-C to become the common charging standard by the EU, Apple has now confirmed that it will be complying with the law and thus switch from lightning to USB-C on iPhones produced in the future.
Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing Greg Joswiak in a video interview with the wall street journal said as much confirming that “obviously, we will have to comply.”
When Will the Change Happen
In regards to when the very change will take place, Joswiak did not reveal much as the law does not come into play until 2024. That being said, it is very much possible that the iPhone 15 will still have lightning but apple however might not have to wait around to make the inevitable switch indeed it has also been rumored that the iPhone 15 will be sporting USB-C when it indeed arrives in the coming year.
Will the Change Happen Worldwide?
Joswiak also did not make any certainty on whether this very change will be applicable globally or just in Europe, so there is still uncertainty surrounding that very question. From the interview, it is very clear that this is not a change that the company s really keen on making. And despite having switched to USB-C for Macs and iPads, Joswiak noted that moving iPhones to USB-C will be creating a whole lot of e-waste since the tons of lightning cables available all over the globe will no longer be usable with future products.
He also believes that by making the cables removable from the power brick (something that will make you able to connect the cable of your choice to the brick), Apple had struck a good balance that doesn’t have to inconvenience customers, and that this forced move to USB-C isn’t really the best thing for many of its customers.
Lightning’s Days Were Probably Numbered with or without the Interference of the EU
He also pointed out that various governments have tried to standardize micro-USB connectors in the past, and that if that however should have taken place there would have likely been no Lightning cable or USB-C and both of which are now superior to micro-USB.
All of which the VP had said are reasonable points, but with Apple’s move to USB-C on other products, the growing popularity of wireless charging, and rumors of a portless iPhone, it all seems like Lightning’s days were probably numbered with or without the interference of the EU.
