Apple’s Lightning connector is still recommended for the iPhone 14, but future iPhones and other products that use proprietary chargers may have to abandon it if the European Union prevails.
The EU is aiming to make USB-C the default charger for portable devices for many years to come to reduce e-waste and customer complexity. As the most recent step towards ‘common EU charger’ legislation, the draft law has been amended to apply not only to the phones proposed in the original plan, but also to larger devices such as laptops, tablets and cameras.
Because if you’ve heard of this before, passing the law can take a long time. The first draft of the proposed law (after extensive consultations) was passed in January of this year after years of discussion. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee has expressed the above amendments, which will face a further vote in the European Parliament in May, ahead of discussions on how to implement the law at the national level for EU member states. It’s possible.
MEP also wants the product to have information printed on the packaging about filling options and the power brick’s shipping range. It has also asked the European Commission (the EU government’s executive body) to propose a similar standard for wireless charging by 2026, which could affect things like Apple’s MagSafe charging.
This affects all electronics companies operating in Europe, but due to its unique charging system such as the Lightning connector, the attention of these discussions tends to focus on Apple. As you might expect, Apple isn’t very happy with the EU’s plans. It is argued that this plan will hurt the economy and innovation, and Apple’s vast ecosystem of Lightning accessories is undoubtedly also contributing to Apple’s opposition.
Fortunately, Apple already offers USB-C charging for most of its products that would be affected if the EU enacted it as it is, with the exception of the iPhone and the basic iPad. The only notable exceptions are the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro, which charge via the USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port but offer the fastest speeds available only via the exclusive MagSafe charging port. Although this dual-port strategy won’t work on much smaller tablets or phones, it allows Apple to meet their needs while offering their own proprietary standards.
Apple’s wireless AirPods earbuds also use the Lightning connector to charge. However, the EU’s current position is that small items like smartwatches aren’t covered by the new rules, giving Apple extra leeway to continue working with Lightning on select products.
It will probably be several years before USB-C becomes a legally enforced charging standard in the EU. In the meantime, let’s look forward to the iPhone 14. Despite early rumors that the iPhone 14 Pro models will adopt USB-C, the most recent thing we’ve heard is that Apple will only implement a new version of the Lightning port on the Pro with higher data rates.
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Apple could be forced to give iPhones USB-C ports if new law passes
Apple’s Lightning connector is still tipped for the iPhone 14, but future iPhones and other products using proprietary chargers may have to give them up if the European Union gets its way.
In the name of reducing e-waste and complexity for customers, the EU has been aiming to make USB-C the standard charger for portable devices for several years. In the latest step forward for the “EU Common charger” legislation, the draft law has been amended to make it apply to larger devices like laptops, tablets and cameras as well as phones like the original plan suggested.
If you’ve heard about this story before, then it’s because passing legislation can take an awfully long time. The first draft of the proposed legislation (after an extended consultation) passed in January this year, after several years of talks. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee introduced the changes mentioned above, which will then go to another vote in the European Parliament in May before discussions begin on implementing the laws at a national level for EU members.
In addition, the MEPs want products to have information on charging options and whether there’s a power brick included printed on the packaging. It’s also requested the European Commission (the executive branch of the EU government) to propose a similar standard for wireless charging by 2026, which could impact things like Apple’s MagSafe charging.
While this would affect all electronics companies operating in Europe, eyes tend to fall on Apple during these discussions, as it uses unique charging systems like the Lightning port. As you may have expected, Apple isn’t keen on the EU’s plans. It argues that the plan will hurt the economy and innovation, and no doubt the huge ecosystem of Lightning accessories also factors into Apple’s opposition too.
Fortunately, outside of iPhones and the basic iPad, Apple already offers USB-C charging on the majority of the products that would be impacted if the EU enacted the rules as they stand. The only notable exceptions are the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro, which can be charged via their USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports but only offers their fastest available speeds via the proprietary MagSafe charging connector. This would allow Apple to meet the requirement while still offering its own proprietary standard, although this dual-port strategy wouldn’t work on a much smaller tablet or phone.
Apple’s AirPods wireless earbuds also use the Lightning port to charge. However, the current position of the EU is that smaller items like smartwatches will not be covered by the new rules, potentially giving Apple some extra wiggle room to keep Lightning going on some products.
We are probably still several years off from seeing USB-C become the EU’s legally enforced charging standard. In the meantime, we have the iPhone 14 to look forward to. Despite early rumors saying the iPhone 14 Pro models would adopt USB-C, the latest we’ve heard is that Apple will only implement a new version of the Lightning port with faster data speeds on the Pros.
#Apple #forced #give #iPhones #USBC #ports #law #passes
Apple could be forced to give iPhones USB-C ports if new law passes
Apple’s Lightning connector is still tipped for the iPhone 14, but future iPhones and other products using proprietary chargers may have to give them up if the European Union gets its way.
In the name of reducing e-waste and complexity for customers, the EU has been aiming to make USB-C the standard charger for portable devices for several years. In the latest step forward for the “EU Common charger” legislation, the draft law has been amended to make it apply to larger devices like laptops, tablets and cameras as well as phones like the original plan suggested.
If you’ve heard about this story before, then it’s because passing legislation can take an awfully long time. The first draft of the proposed legislation (after an extended consultation) passed in January this year, after several years of talks. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee introduced the changes mentioned above, which will then go to another vote in the European Parliament in May before discussions begin on implementing the laws at a national level for EU members.
In addition, the MEPs want products to have information on charging options and whether there’s a power brick included printed on the packaging. It’s also requested the European Commission (the executive branch of the EU government) to propose a similar standard for wireless charging by 2026, which could impact things like Apple’s MagSafe charging.
While this would affect all electronics companies operating in Europe, eyes tend to fall on Apple during these discussions, as it uses unique charging systems like the Lightning port. As you may have expected, Apple isn’t keen on the EU’s plans. It argues that the plan will hurt the economy and innovation, and no doubt the huge ecosystem of Lightning accessories also factors into Apple’s opposition too.
Fortunately, outside of iPhones and the basic iPad, Apple already offers USB-C charging on the majority of the products that would be impacted if the EU enacted the rules as they stand. The only notable exceptions are the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro, which can be charged via their USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports but only offers their fastest available speeds via the proprietary MagSafe charging connector. This would allow Apple to meet the requirement while still offering its own proprietary standard, although this dual-port strategy wouldn’t work on a much smaller tablet or phone.
Apple’s AirPods wireless earbuds also use the Lightning port to charge. However, the current position of the EU is that smaller items like smartwatches will not be covered by the new rules, potentially giving Apple some extra wiggle room to keep Lightning going on some products.
We are probably still several years off from seeing USB-C become the EU’s legally enforced charging standard. In the meantime, we have the iPhone 14 to look forward to. Despite early rumors saying the iPhone 14 Pro models would adopt USB-C, the latest we’ve heard is that Apple will only implement a new version of the Lightning port with faster data speeds on the Pros.
#Apple #forced #give #iPhones #USBC #ports #law #passes
Synthetic: Vik News
