USB-C on iPhone: that’s why it may not arrive on iPhone 15. According to many experts, iPhone 15 will adopt a USB-C port to comply with European Union regulations but, in reality, Apple still has time before the obligation enters in effect. That’s why the first real iPhone, required by law to have a USB-C port, could be the iPhone 17.
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When does the EU obligation on the USB-C connector come into effect?
According to European regulations, electronic devices sold in Europe must necessarily adopt the USB-C standard as a universal connector. This means that new computers, tablets and smartphones will have to be updated and can no longer be sold with proprietary connectors or in any case different from USB-C.
The deadline set by the EU for compliance with this regulation is 28 December 2023, but member states are required to enforce the laws by 28 December 2024.
Member States shall adopt and publish by 28 December 2023 the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall immediately communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.
They shall apply these provisions from 28 December 2024 for the categories or classes of radio equipment referred to in Annex Ia, Part I, points 1.1. to 1.12., and from 28 April 2026 for the categories or classes of radio equipment referred to in Annex I bis, part I, point 1.13.
The law will only apply to products released after December 28, 2024, so Apple could technically continue to release products with Lightning ports until that date. Since Apple tends to release iPhones in September, the Californian company could be forced to introduce USB-C on iPhone only from iPhone 17. Until then, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 could still be sold with the connector Lightning.
Accessories will also have to match
This law also applies to various types of accessories such as mice, headphones and more. Apple, therefore, will have to update many of its products in the coming years, in order to adapt them to USB-C.
While some products are already equipped with such a port, such as the new Siri Remote for Apple TV 4K 2022, a wide range of accessories are not yet ready for this leap.
Among these we find:
- AirPods
- MagSafe Battery Packs
- MagSafe Duo
The Way Forward for Apple: Still Release iPhone 15 with USB-C
Although Apple is not yet required to do so, the company would seem to have already started the transition from the Lightning connector to the USB-C connector, as has already happened on the iPad and MacBook.
If the iPhone 15 were to arrive with a USB-C connector, in 2023, Apple could already remove the thought of complying with European requirements, although it is not yet forced to do so by law. In any case, it is probable that the Cupertino company already has an iPhone designed with this connector in the works, given that these projects require years of work and the EU’s intentions in this regard have been known for some time.
What if an iPhone without ports arrives?
The latest hypothesis relates to an iPhone concept without any type of doors, therefore totally wireless, as many users dream and hypothesize. While this could be a huge step forward in terms of design and convenience, obviously with the improvement of wireless charging, on the other hand it could lead to problems for developers and testers who would find themselves without physical ports for technical and development operations .