Apple Inc. tests future iPhones that replace the current Lightning charging port with the more common USB-C connector.
Apple Inc. is testing future iPhone models that replace the current Lightning charging port with the more common USB-C connector, according to people familiar with the situation, a move that could help the company comply with upcoming European regulations.
In addition to testing models with a USB-C port in recent months, Apple is working on an adapter that will allow future iPhones to work with accessories designed for the current Lightning connector, said people who asked not to be identified because the issue is private.
If the company continues with the change, it will not happen until 2023 at the earliest. Apple plans to keep the Lightning connector for iPhone 14 models.
Switching to USB-C, Apple will streamline the collection of chargers used by its various devices. Most of the company’s iPad and Mac now rely on USB-C, not Lightning. This means that Apple customers can’t use any chargers for their iPhones, iPads and Macs – a strange setting, given Apple’s penchant for simplicity. Wireless chargers for both iPhone and Apple Watch also use a USB-C connector for their power bricks.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, declined to comment on the change.
This move, which analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicts, will come with compromises – and potentially create confusion for customers. USB-C chargers are slightly larger than the Lightning connector, but can offer faster charging and data transfer speeds. The new connectors will also be compatible with many existing chargers for devices other than Apple, such as Android phones and tablets.
But most Apple accessories – including AirPods, Apple TV remotes, MagSafe batteries and MagSafe Duo chargers – still use Lightning. The developed USB-C adapter can alleviate this problem, but it is unclear whether Apple will include it in the box or make customers pay extra for it.
There is also a wide range of third-party accessories, such as chargers, car adapters and external microphones that use the existing connector. Switching would force third-party suppliers to redesign their products.
Read more: Apple’s confusing strategy for its chargers
And the change will reduce Apple’s control over the iPhone accessories market. Apple is forcing accessory manufacturers to pay to use the Lightning connector and participate in a rigorous approval process. USB-C is a standard used by many consumer device manufacturers, including most Android phone manufacturers, making it less likely that Apple will be able to exercise its usual level of control.
In recent years, Apple has also been working on an iPhone without a charging port, seeking to promote the MagSafe wireless charging system introduced in 2020. But wireless is often slower when charging the phone’s battery and doesn’t sync data with other devices. so fast . In addition, it is not practical in all situations, such as the setting in some cars.
The main reason for the change is the decision of the European Union to force manufacturers of phones and other devices to accept USB-C. Legislation for such a requirement was approved by a majority in April.
“Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, handheld video game consoles and portable speakers rechargeable via cable must be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of the manufacturer,” according to the law.
Apple says European law will damage its ability to innovate. “We are concerned that a regulation requiring only one type of connector for all devices on the market will harm European consumers by delaying the introduction of useful innovations in charging standards, including those related to safety and energy efficiency,” the company said last year. year.
Apple may release a compatible version of the iPhone for Europe, while keeping Lightning elsewhere. But having multiple versions of the same iPhone with different connectors would likely lead to even more confusion as well as supply chain headaches.
It is unclear whether Apple may eventually abandon the USB-C switch if European law fails to materialize. Many users are calling for change nonetheless, in the name of simplicity.
Switching to USB-C would be the second port change in iPhone history. From the original iPhone in 2007 to the iPhone 4s in 2011, Apple used the 30-pin connector for the iPod, popular years earlier. With the iPhone 5, Apple has moved to the smaller Lightning port, promoting its more durable design that can be inserted into the iPhone in both directions.
This switch caused some complaints, but customers accepted the change fairly quickly. At the time, Apple was selling a separate adapter for old accessories. It cost $ 29.
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