Your next iPhone might need a different charging cable. Here's why - ZDNet

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Last week, European policymakers voted successful a caller instrumentality that volition necessitate each smartphones, tablets, and cameras sold successful the EU to come equipped with a USB-C charging. As a result, by the extremity of 2024, consumers successful EU markets volition beryllium capable to usage a azygous charger for each of their mobile devices – moving them 1 measurement person to banishing boxes of unruly, barely-used cables for good.

While the quality is undoubtedly bully for consumers, the determination volition besides unit Apple to determine the destiny of its proprietary Lightning charging cable, which is inactive utilized exclusively for a fistful of Apple products: astir crucially, the iPhone.

The latest iPad models ditched the Lightning cablegram successful favour of USB-C, arsenic did the newer MacBooks, astir apt successful effect to speculation the EU mandate would soon beryllium approved. To enactment compliant with Europe's caller laws, Apple volition person to marque akin plan changes to the iPhone, on with its Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and AirPods, each of which inactive diagnostic a Lightning connector.

Also: Most eco-friendly smartphone? Apple vs Samsung successful the contention against e-waste

But would these changes beryllium universal, oregon could Apple opt to plan a USB-C-compliant iPhone specifically for European markets? 

Jan Stryjak, subordinate manager astatine Counterpoint Research, speculates that Apple volition eradicate the Lightning cablegram and power each aboriginal iPhone models to USB-C charging. While there's a anticipation that Apple volition support the Lightning ports connected aboriginal models successful the US, Stryjak believes it's unlikely. 

"It mightiness proceed successful the US since the US is 1 of Apple's biggest markets," helium tells ZDNET. "I would accidental that Apple would apt displacement altogether to the USB-C platform; it'll conscionable beryllium excessively overmuch effort to manufacture 2 antithetic phones."

ZDNET has approached Apple seeking remark connected the EU's ruling past week.

The instrumentality shaper has consistently pushed backmost connected moving to USB-C, arguing that having a diverseness of charging systems for user electronics is bully for innovation. This is debatable, and erstwhile you see that aged charging cables relationship for almost 11,000 tons of e-waste successful Europe each year, the statement for sticking with Lightning cables diminishes. 

Of course, if aboriginal iPhone models diagnostic USB-C ports, European iPhone users volition beryllium near with obsolete Lightning cables. But this won't beryllium a large woody to consumers.

"The lone drawback would beryllium for those consumers who person tons of Apple products that are each Lightning-charging susceptible would request to bargain caller products anyway," says Stryjak. "But past astir different products, similar iPads oregon Macs, for example, volition person USB-C charging arsenic well."

Also: The champion greenish phones: Sustainable and eco-friendly smartphones

Another anticipation is that Apple ditches charging ports altogether: newer iPhones could travel with wireless-only charging capabilities, says Strykag, leaving the accepted plug-in charging successful the past. The European Commission is alert of this possibility, and volition see interoperability requirements for wireless charging successful the coming years.

"With the latest iPhone 14, they've gone exclusively e-sim and removed the sim tray altogether, truthful you ne'er know. By this clip adjacent year, the iPhone 15 could beryllium exclusively wireless charging," says Strykag.

Europe has passed its caller rules with consumers and the situation successful mind. According to the European Commission, the mean user owns 3 charging cables, down from 30 10 years ago. All of these cables yet extremity up successful the aforesaid place: a landfill.

Although Apple has denounced a cosmopolitan charging cablegram successful the past, Stryjak thinks the institution mightiness alteration its mind, particularly if it wants its actions to align with its sustainability initiatives. 

"It would marque consciousness for Apple to autumn successful line," Stryjak says. "Apple is 1 of the main spokespeople for sustainability. With the iPhone 14, they enactment a batch successful presumption of utilizing recyclable materials and the iPhone trade-in programme – Apple is ever astatine the forefront of that. So, I would beryllium precise amazed if Apple didn't say, 'you cognize what, this is simply a bully thing. We should travel it.'"