The EU recently passed new legislation requiring most consumer electronics devices to switch to USB-C for charging and data transfer. Now, for the first time, Apple has confirmed that it must comply with this new regulation, although the company still fundamentally disagrees with the basis of the new common charging rules.
An iPhone with USB-C is definitely coming. The confirmation came from Apple manager Greg Joswiak, the company's senior vice president of worldwide marketing. Joswiak and his colleague Craig Federighi, senior vice president of Apple, were accompanied by Joanna Stern at a Wall Street Journal event interviewed. Stern began the interview with a question from the director about the USB-C vs. Lightning debate. Joswiak explained that USB-C and Lightning are the two most popular connectors in the world, and more than a billion people use a Lightning cable. According to Joswiak, Apple believes the company has struck a balance by using a cable that can be unplugged, meaning that one side can have Lightning and the other side can have the most convenient connector for the user, such as USB-C or USB-A.
iPhone 15 will use USB-C
Joswiak said that EU lawmakers and Apple were "a bit at odds" over the idea of a common charger regulation. He noted that while the EU has good intentions, it's difficult to find a regulation. He specifically points out that EU lawmakers once tried to standardize the now-obsolete micro-USB connector. Ultimately, however, Joswiak confirmed that Apple will have no choice but to comply with the new EU common charger regulation around USB-C. While he did not confirm that Apple will switch the iPhone to USB-C, unless there is some fancy workaround, that's the only real solution. "For most iPhone customers, it's about charging," Joswiak said. Sources including Bloomberg and Ming-Chi Kuo have reported that Apple plans to switch to USB-C with next year's iPhone 15. (Photo by yalcin.sonat / Bigstockphoto)
