Earlier today, the European Parliament voted in favor of enforcing a standard charger across all smartphones and a wide range of consumer electronic devices by the end of 2024, including new products released by Apple thereafter.
The new rule will directly and most heavily impact Apple, which across a wide range of products, continues to use a decade-old port. Below, we've listed some of the most popular Apple products that currently feature Lightning but will have to adopt USB-C if newer models go on sale in 2025 or later to comply with the new law.
- iPhone (the first iPhone with a USB-C port is actually rumored to be next year's iPhone 15)
- Entry-level iPad: The only iPad that currently still features a Lightning connector
- AirPods Charging Case: All AirPods cases continue to feature the Lightning port
- Accessories: MagSafe Battery Pack, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse, EarPods, and Beats products
Apple introduced the Lightning port in 2012 as part of the iPhone 5 redesign, promising improved durability and ease of use compared to the 30-pin connector used on previous iPhones. During its announcement in 2012, Phil Schiller called the Lightning port a "modern connector for the next decade."
While Apple has chosen to bring USB-C to many of its iPad models, it has for the most part stuck with Lightning for its most popular products. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry has overwhelmingly moved to USB-C. A majority of Android flagship smartphones feature USB-C, and the port has become the standard for consumer products for makers and customers alike.
Top Rated Comments
And stop being innocent and defend Apple “this will stifle innovation”. No! Any consortium or corporation can come up with a better connector any time. Apple keeps Lightning around because they make money out of it, end of the story.
Edit: Replies say that this means we will be stuck with the superior USB-C until the law is updated. I don't think that would be any worse than the status quo of being stuck with Lightning for so long.
Even Apple’s own product lineup is using different ports, how isn’t this annoying? I’m glad EU is pushing for standardization.