EU Moves One Step Closer to Mandating Apple to Switch iPhone, iPad, and AirPods to USB-C

[Danfango]

There's a million reasons why this is a bad move. USB-C is a far from decent standard and to mandate that all devices use it going forward is a stupid idea. In fact the standard is basically a crapfest of every other legacy standard thrown into one poorly designed connector shell and negotiation protocol.

Some examples:

1. The USB-C connectors are far more difficult to replace than equivalents due to the masked row of contacts on the header and the mechanical design that actually tears the copper off the PCB substrate meaning the device is 100% irreparable afterwards.
2. The PD capabilities versus cable and charger is an absolute minefield of dog crap to stand in and some cables can actually blow your device up if you terminate the CC pairs on adapter cables incorrectly as the charger will deliver more voltage than the TVS diodes can handle.
3. There are serious security concerns if you can negotiate thunderbolt protocol from an implanted charger. I mean what could possibly go wrong using an untrusted charger that can negotiate system PCIe bus access...

But I digress. Every objection I've made to USB-C since its inception has been responded to by BUT ITS GOT ELECTROLYTES.

The future we have is a tyranny of moronic standards enforced by moronic regulators pushing us all to the lowest common denominator of capability and security.

 

[Chuck Kemp]

I see this as government overreach. While I personally would love to see a common connectivity arrangement, but I am against government oversight and not overreach.

 

[bcortens]

This is going to be a mess. The next standard will come along and it'll take years and years to adopt it because they won't bother to pass new legislation to update things.

It's rarely good when government regulates tech. It generally leads to holding everything back.

If the tech industry would actually play ball and help with the process this could go more smoothly. For example, a proposal to form a working group to evaluate charging and data technology every 3-5 years that is required to vote in favour of a new port based on some reasonable criteria. This is of course a starting point and they would need to work out the details to make sure it didn't choose bad ports or get bogged down and fail to make choices at all. Generally however, there is no reason why there shouldn't be a good common charging and data port standard, if companies don't want a particular port (USB-C) forced on them they should come up with an alternative.

 

[Bustycat]

In other news apple makes iPhone so thin it won’t support USB-C.

Yet Apple is now making iPhone thicker year by year.

 

[EugW]

Honestly, I think it's a moronic directive. Yes, USB offers some advantages, but I can safely say that Lightning is a much more robust port design in my experience than USB-C.

I would be all for USB-C if they only made it more resilient. It always floors me just how physically weak USB designs often are. It'd also help if they actually policed cable and charger quality.

don't make me laugh.lightning is so old ,charging speeds and data transfers are beyond ridiculous.

Lightning already supports USB 3 speeds in some devices.

 

[dwaltwhit]

The move away from lightning is inevitable anyway. If this passes, Apple would be given a period of time to make a shift that they are already, most likely, already in the process of.

 

[Jimmy_Banks]

I hope the iPhone sticks with Lightning. The transition from 30-pin to Lightning was terrible years ago; I don't want a repeat of that. Plus, I found out how unreliable USB-C connectors are when the one on my monitor snapped off the other day.

I think the concern is overblown, everyone uses bluetooth to connect to peripherals nowadays. Back then it was all hardware connections with the Made For iPod program.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Wonder if the EU have figured out that the only thing standard about USB-C is the physical connector. Everything else is open to manufacturers to do what the hell they want.

I reflect on a case when one of my colleagues asked if I had a USB-C cable for his phone. I said I think so, and gave him a type-A to type-C cable. It didn't work because it was apparently a data-only cable.

You don't have that problem with Lightning. Plug in a Lightning cable and it will work as expected (and should).

Perhaps the EU should focus on more pressing issues like finding a way to stop paying obscene amounts of money to Russia for gas supply, which is indirectly funding the atrocities in Ukraine.

 

[AirunJae]

This is great news. Slowly and steady! There is hope. I have a feeling Apple will move towards portless iPhones and iPads in the near future. We are not far off.

If they go portless on iPhone, then they better have some sort of data transfer through something so I can listen to it in my car. I've had to use a dongle for power and aux, which is a little annoying at times but mostly fine. If they go portless with no easy and good solution (I haven't heard the best things about little bluetooth things), then I guess I would have to go with Pixel phones.

 

[thebeans]

Members of the European Parliament this week voted overwhelmingly in support of legislation that will compel Apple to offer a USB-C port on all iPhones, iPads, and AirPods in Europe.

The proposal, known as a directive, will force all consumer electronics manufacturers who sell devices in Europe to ensure that all new phones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, and portable speakers feature a USB-C port, regardless of the manufacturer. Exemptions will only apply for devices that are too small to offer a USB-C port, such as smart watches, health trackers, and some sports equipment. This "common port" would be a world first and impact Apple in particular since it widely uses the Lightning connector instead of USB-C on many of its devices.

• The EU Wants All Phones to Work With Interoperable Chargers, Here's What That Means for Apple's Lightning Port

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee voted to support the legislation on Wednesday, with 43 votes in favor and just two against. In a press release, MEPs claimed that the move will reduce electronic waste, address product sustainability, and make use of different devices more convenient.

MEPs also expressed a wish to see clear information and labelling on new devices about their charging options, as well as whether or nor a product includes a charger. They claim that this will help to avoid confusion and ease purchasing decisions for consumers that own several devices and do not always need additional chargers. Apple removed the charger from all new iPhone models starting with the iPhone 12 in 2020.

In addition, MEPs want the European Commission to present a strategy for ensuring interoperability between wireless charging solutions by 2026 to prevent fragmentation and reduce waste, ensure user convenience, and avoid consumers getting locked into proprietary charging solutions. It is not clear if this would include Apple's MagSafe charging system for the iPhone and AirPods, since it is based on the Qi wireless charging standard.

In 2018, the European Commission tried to reach a final resolution on the issue but it failed to come into law. At the time, Apple warned that forcing a common charging port on the industry would stifle innovation and create electronic waste as consumers were forced to switch to new cables. The EU's effort resumed last year, with the European Commission spearheading a refreshed version of the directive. To come into effect, the European Parliament must approve the draft legislation next month, before talking with individual EU member states about the final directive.

Article Link: EU Moves One Step Closer to Mandating Apple to Switch iPhone, iPad, and AirPods to USB-C

I still think it would be hilarious if this comes to pass and Apple says screw you, we just won’t sell our products in your countries. I know, that would never happen. Viva la Lightning!!!! Lightning >USB-C

 

[bcortens]

There's a million reasons why this is a bad move. USB-C is a far from decent standard and to mandate that all devices use it going forward is a stupid idea. In fact the standard is basically a crapfest of every other legacy standard thrown into one poorly designed connector shell and negotiation protocol.

Some examples:

1. The USB-C connectors are far more difficult to replace than equivalents due to the masked row of contacts on the header and the mechanical design that actually tears the copper off the PCB substrate meaning the device is 100% irreparable afterwards.
2. The PD capabilities versus cable and charger is an absolute minefield of dog crap to stand in and some cables can actually blow your device up if you terminate the CC pairs on adapter cables incorrectly as the charger will deliver more voltage than the TVS diodes can handle.
3. There are serious security concerns if you can negotiate thunderbolt protocol from an implanted charger. I mean what could possibly go wrong using an untrusted charger that can negotiate system PCIe bus access...

But I digress. Every objection I've made to USB-C since its inception has been responded to by BUT ITS GOT ELECTROLYTES.

The future we have is a tyranny of moronic standards enforced by moronic regulators pushing us all to the lowest common denominator of capability and security.

As I have pointed out here and in other threads, if tech companies don't want to be regulated they need to actually bother to work together to create good common standards... Apple can complain all it wants about restricting innovation but if they think lightning is so great they should have lobbied that it be the common standard, but then this was never about innovation, it was always about ecosystem lock in.

 

[azentropy]

While I wish Apple would have switched their iPhones over to USB-C long ago I am against mandates like this. Apple is right that it could stifle innovation especially if not set up correctly. So does that mean Apple can't go port-less? Does that mean if a better connection/port is created it can't be used unless it also still includes USB-C?

 

[DanteHicks79]

This is great news. Slowly and steady! There is hope. I have a feeling Apple will move towards portless iPhones and iPads in the near future. We are not far off.

I wonder tho if the EU would still blast Apple for not having USB-C, even with a portless phone.

MagSafe/wireless charging was obviously Apple's way of skirting around/loopholing past the issue, by claiming they use the industry standard QI charging system - and that still didn't satisfy the EU in the way Apple hoped.

Also, thanks to BMW, there are still tons of automobile owners whose vehicles lack wireless CarPlay - so those who don't have it will be hosed with a portless phone; I finally invested in a third-party solution, which worked great like ten times, until it crashed one day and the firmware seems to be hosed.

I know it's not in Apple's nature to actually give a $h1t about anything they've released more than six months prior, but if they really want CarPlay to get used, they'll need to introduce some product/workaround for all of us who can't afford to just go out and buy a new car to use Apple's solution to infotainment.

 

[Jeven Stobs]

I look forward watching Apple find whatever loophole gets them out of this

Making the devices so thin they can’t house a C hub maybe?

 

[thebeans]

I fully support this. Everything else in the house uses USB-C, even my damn iPad. There's zero good reason for Apple not to do this other than being greedy for the accessory dollars. If they won't do the right thing, let the EU force them.

It’s not about accessory dollars. If it was, they would have kept lightning on everything. It’s about lightning being superior to USB-C for a phone charge cable. Simple as that.

 

[falkon-engine]

My 2021 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro both use USB-C (thunderbolt) for charging/data, but my 2021 iPhone uses Lightning (with a slow 480 Mb/sec connection). Make it make sense. The iPhone is the only modern device in my house that doesn't use USB-C for charging. Everything else including my PS5/Xbox controllers, tablets, phones, laptops (both windows and Mac) etc use USB-C. It's time for Apple to transition, they should've done so years ago in my opinion, when they introduced USB-C on the iPad.

 

[klasma]

This is going to be a mess. The next standard will come along and it'll take years and years to adopt it because they won't bother to pass new legislation to update things.

It's rarely good when government regulates tech. It generally leads to holding everything back.

I don’t know, just imagine the mess if there was no standard for wall sockets, and there hasn’t been a need for a new standard there for many decades.

 

[mwickens]

Politicians and bureaucrats who spend their time trying to dictate product designs to electronics manufacturers should find more honest work.

 

[tmoerel]

There is a good reason I moved to Switzerland from the EU. I have enough of their nanny state!!

 

[DanteHicks79]

I look forward watching Apple find whatever loophole gets them out of this

They already tried wireless charging to see if that got them off the hook (hey, it's an industry standard and not proprietary!); apparently the EU was not amused.

 

[Jeven Stobs]

I think not including a power brick with new iPhones but keeping the price the same really ticked off a lot of people.

You’re going to do that? Then we’re going to do this.

Considering the price of the “ultra” premium devices hasn’t changed since 2017 (iPhone X - 999$) while the tech got considerably better and the storage got doubled while the dollar lost no inconsiderable amount of value, it’s more than fair IMO.

 

[klasma]

EU: "Time for everyone to use USB-C"
Apple: *releases port-less iPhone.
EU: *shocked Pikachu face

The EU is actually already working on standardizing wireless charging.

 

[mrat93]

You've got to remember that non-tech people don't think like us. 99% of people will be furious when Apple switches the iPhone to USB-C because now all of their accessories and 800 lightning cables they have accumulated will all be worthless. And the EU claims this will REDUCE ewaste??? It's creating tons of it!

If not now, when? Couldn’t you make the same argument if Apple goes all-wireless, which they’ve been rumored to do? In that case, we have more non-standard chargers (magsafe) to worry about.

And no, those cables won’t be worthless. There are hundreds of millions of Lightning devices in use today, and there still will be if Apple announces one USB-C iPhone.

You could also argue that Apple is creating e-waste by making it so users need to have two different cables at various points throughout their homes. I would LOVE to just have one cable by my bedside and at my desk and at my couch and in my car and when I travel.

 

[bcortens]

It’s not about accessory dollars. If it was, they would have kept lightning on everything. It’s about lightning being superior to USB-C for a phone charge cable. Simple as that.

Then why has apple never lobbied to make lightning standard across all phone manufacturers? A common data and charging standard is a good idea in theory and if the regulations were specific enough it could be good in practice too, if Apple is serious about innovation and the quality of the connector they'll take part in the process rather than obstructing it. Lightning is only used by Apple for ecosystem lock in reasons.

 

[mileusna]

EU regulations, because of those guys we have to click "Accept cookies" on every good damn site we visit.
I don't know what will happen with some new better/faster ports that future might bring? Are we stuck with USB-C forever now?

Still, looking forward for iPhone with USB-C. ? I will finally be able to plug the same (usb-c) headphones in my mac and my iPhone.