Eu moves to switch iPhone ports
Oct 08, 2022| Eu moves to switch iPhone ports
The European Parliament agreed on June 7 that from autumn 2024, all "small and medium-sized portable electronic devices" sold in the EU, including the iPhone, will in future have to use USB-C as a uniform charging port.
It is easy to see that this agreement is aimed at Apple first. USB-C ports are now standard on smartphones and tablets, with the exception of the iPhone and the digital iPad, except for a few entry-level 100-dollar devices.
With the new rules, Apple will have to switch to USB-C -- unless it doesn't want to sell it in the EU. With 241m iphones sold worldwide last year, 56m in Europe, Apple is unlikely to give up the market easily.
There is hope that our Chinese consumers will also be able to use the USB-C iPhone. After all, Apple isn't likely to tailor USB-C and Lightning to different markets.
Of course, the new rules are not just about picking on Apple. Eu officials say the move is aimed not at one company, but at everyone.
The new rules cover a total of 15 categories, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, headphones, digital cameras and portable speakers, and manufacturers involved have 24 months to make the transition. Laptop makers can extend that to 40 months, because games often require a high-powered charger, and 240W USB PD chargers are not yet widely available.
