Apple stands out in proprietary solutions such as its Lightning connection, which is currently present in its iPhone.
This connection, although exclusive to the North American company, generates large revenues for the industry dedicated to protective cases, compatible chargers, Lightning cables and a host of accessories and peripherals for Apple iPhone.3
The same can be said, in fact, for various software developers who build their solutions around the Cupertino giant and its products.
However, the international, and especially European, pressure for Apple to adopt the USB-C port in its phones is growing day by day.
The Android world has already embraced USB-C, now it’s the turn of Apple’s iPhone
Apple insists on keeping its ports and connections unique, in this case, the Lightning port. However, even in some of its products such as the iPad Pro range, Apple itself has already adopted the USB Type-C connection, thus taking the first step.
At the same time, the European Union made it mandatory for the USB-C port to be available on all smartphones.
The obligation also extends to tablets and cameras sold on the EU market until the end of 2024.
More specifically, the new regulation of the European Commission, already approved by the European Parliament, makes this adoption of the USB-C standard effective. For Apple, now is the time to rethink its strategy and meet European regulatory requirements.
Reduce e-waste by unifying the port type with USB Type-C
At first, we might think that the Union wanted to strengthen competition in the market and force Apple to use the same connections and ports that the competition already uses. However, the main motivation, according to the legal text, seems to be ecological and sustainable.
Therefore, putting the environment first, we promote the reuse of chargers already available at home to charge the most diverse mobile devices. At the same time, the production of electronic waste will be reduced every year.
More specifically, savings of 250 million euros are reported in Europe in costs associated with new chargers and various solutions for connecting mobile devices.
In short, according to the community resolution, by the end of 2024, mobile device manufacturers such as Apple must provide a USB Type-C connection to continue selling in our market.
Finally, an apology is also made for wireless charging solutions as an alternative and complementary means to traditional USB-C cable charging.