Apple’s latest iPhone is expected to have a USB-C charging port when it is unveiled on September 12th.
Unlike competitors like Samsung, the company now uses its own Lightning adaptor on its phones.
To save consumers money and reduce waste, European Union legislation mandates that phone makers adopt a standard charging connection by December 2024.
The majority of new Apple products, including the most recent iPads, already utilize USB-C, although the company has advocated against the EU regulation.
An Apple spokesperson told reporters when it was first announced in September 2021: “Strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world.”
There are already Lightning to USB-C adapters available from other electronics retailers like Amazon, and since the 2017 release of the iPhone 8, wireless charging is enabled on all iPhone models.
The Lightning cord, which costs £19 at the Apple store, may soon become obsolete as the current iPhone 14 appears to be the company’s final product to exclusively use it.
Although the tech giant is less likely to produce a new version of the handset for the European market only, it is unclear whether this will be a global alteration to the product.
The new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro smartphones, which are scheduled to be presented next week at the company’s annual autumn event, are expected to feature the upgrades.
According to reports, the users will profit from the transition by having better internet speeds and the ability to charge their iPads, Macs, and iPhones with a single charger.
According to the EU, a variety of “small and medium-sized portable electronics” are covered by the common-charger rule, including: tablets, e-readers, smartphones, and mice; headphones, headsets, and earbuds with GPS capabilities; portable speakers; handheld videogame consoles; and digital cameras.
No matter who makes the devices, any of these that are charged by a wired cable will need to have a USB Type-C port.
Although manufacturers have more time to make the improvements, laptops will also need to adhere to the requirements.
It will reportedly save consumers “up to €250 million [£213 million] a year on unnecessary charger purchases” and reduce trash by 11,000 metric tons annually, the EU disclosed.
