Experts forecast that Apple’s upcoming iPhone would feature USB-C charging as a result of a European rule on standard chargers moving one step closer to reality.
The European Parliament passed a regulation on Tuesday requiring that by the end of 2024, all gadgets sold in the EU, including smartphones, tablets, and cameras, have a USB Type-C charging port.
Currently, Apple employs proprietary Lightning chargers rather than USB-C. However, the iPhone 15, the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone, might change that.
According to Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, “It is now inevitable that Apple will have to capitulate and transition to USB-C on the iPhone 15 when it arrives in 2023.”
“My thinking is that Apple has already moved to USB-C on MacBook and iPad Pro so the transition has started. iPhone 14 was quite iterative so iPhone 15 could be a bigger step in design. Therefore, it would be a good time to make the change,” Wood said in follow up comments to CNBC.
According to rumours, Apple is looking into USB-C for the iPhone 15, which would be the name of the following gadget if the current naming convention is followed.
Company stated in May that Apple is testing upcoming iPhone models with USB-C charging, but those won’t be available until at least 2023.
Will iPhone 15 have USB-C charging globally?
According to Bryan Ma, an IDC technology industry analyst, if Apple does transition to USB-C next year, it will do so for all iPhone models, not only those sold in the EU.
“Most likely it would make sense that they get the scale out of moving to this common charger globally rather than having to make individual parts, unless they think that they’re really making so much [money] off of those chargers and accessories and that sort of thing that it’s still worth it for them to maintain that separate,” Ma says “Squawk Box Asia” on Wednesday.
He continued, “In their own house, they’re already getting ready and making preparations for the eventuality within a couple of years.”
With the modification, Apple’s charging connectors would be on par with those of rivals like Samsung, which currently employ USB-C.
The EU law, which has been in the works for about 10 years, appears to be heading toward final approval this year.
Lawmakers contend that having uniform charging standards will reduce waste and eliminate the need for consumers to buy a new charger each time they buy a new gadget.
“This is a victory for common sense. Although Apple has a huge installed base of lighting cable powered devices, the ubiquity of USB-C across all consumer electronics products means that harmonising on USB-C makes perfect sense,” Wood said.