However, the newest iPhone models have been shipping with a lightning-to-USB-C adapter cable, which allows the iPhone to be connected to a USB-C socket if needed. Since 2012, iPhones have come with the company's own Lightning port and connecting cables, which replaced the previous 30-pin connector. Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted Apple will finally ditch the Lightning port for USB-C in its 2023 iPhone, rumoured to be called the iPhone 15. However, rumours have already indicated Apple may be planning to replace Lightning with USB-C, possibly in anticipation of the EU's new rule. While many electronics makers have started using USB-C sockets on their devices, Apple has been one of the main holdouts. 'Buyers will also be able to choose whether they want to purchase new electronic equipment with or without a charging device.' 'Consumers will be provided with clear information on the charging characteristics of new devices, making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible,' the EU said in a statement. The EU has also outlined standards for giving consumers the right to choose whether to buy new devices with or without a charger, which it estimates will save consumers 250 million euros (£212 million) a year. 'Consumers will be provided with clear information on the charging characteristics of new devices, making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible,' the EU said in its statement on Tuesday. The union estimates that discarded or unused chargers account for 11,000 metric tons of e-waste in Europe every year. The EU introduced the rule because it wants a uniform charging cord for smartphones and other devices to reduce electronic waste, but Apple argues this would limit innovation and hurt consumers. Ultimately, it should make life easier for consumers fed up with rummaging through a tangle of cables for the right one. Laptops also are covered, but manufacturers will have extra time to comply.Īpple fans in affected countries will of course be able to still use their old Lightning chargers and devices that have Lightning ports.īut new devices sold in the affected countries from 2024 will have to be USB-C. The EU's rule covers not just mobile phones, but tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld video game consoles and portable speakers. The situation is comparable to 5G a couple of years ago, when various countries had different standards, Dr Cowling said.Īccording to the EU’s announcement: 'This law is a part of a broader EU effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, to reduce electronic waste, and make consumers’ lives easier.' 'It's the end of life for Lightning,' he said. Michael Cowling, an IT expert at Central Queensland University believes that USB-C will become standard on all iPhones sold in Australia. To simplify things, Apple could just opt to make devices with USB-C ports. The EU's rule, announced in Strasbourg on Tuesday, means Apple will have to change the charging port on its devices in all 27 EU countries by 2024.Īpple will have to start fitting its iPhones and other devices with a USB-C charger, already used for Android devices, rather than its own proprietary power connector technology, known as 'Lightning'.Īpple now faces the decision on whether to make USB-C standard on all new iPhones or only those sold in EU countries. An Australian tech expert believes Apple will stop selling iPhones fitted with the 'Lightning' charger Down Under after the European Union mandated a universal connector to reduce electronic waste and make consumers' lives easier.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |