EU Sets Official Deadline for When iPhone Must Switch to USB-C

[bigjnyc]

if they wait until iPhone 16 that would mean they would no longer be able to sell the previous years model in the EU which they always tend to sell for a lower price so that wouldn't really make too much sense to wait until that time

I don't think that's true. The law applies to phones manufactured after the December 24' deadline....

 

[EvilEvil]

Can't wait. Death to dongles!

 

[Alpha Centauri]

TB4 uses USB-C as a connector, but it is not USB-C. While the articles says it should be USB-C.

What do you mean..."it's not USB-C"?

USB-C is just a connection standard. I think someone already mentioned that to you.

Anecdotally, only the chipset used determines the actual throughput speed. And certainly it seems that's how Apple will further force segmentation if rumors are to be believed of the iP 15 vs Pro. But know I digress.

 

[T Coma]

Brave.

 

[iccb]

If Thunderbolt ever uses anythink else port than USB-C, the iPads should charge only with wireless charger so there is no worry about connecting perepherials.

 

[Manzanito]

Apple should have made the move years ago. No reason to stick with a inferior port, unless they have some agreement they want to keep profiting off, like the “made for iPhone”.

 

[imdog]

The EU are even more morally bankrupt than Apple with Tim Crook at the helm. The fact some trans-National organization can dictate what charging port a private company can use is insane.

 

[cyanite]

I guess Apple cannot put the superior Thunderbolt 4 on their iPhone's?

I guess the iPad Pro needs to downgrade from Thunderbolt 4 to USB-C because of Europe?

Yes they can, since Thunderbolt 4 uses the USB-C connector.

But USB-C != Thunderbolt 4.

One is a connector, one is a system that uses that connector.

Apple can switch on the fly with the Apple Dongle Ultra. Have the best of both worlds: lightning and USB C, with the best, most powerful, thinnest and lightest dongle we’ve ever made. There has never been a faster, more versatile dongle with the cachet of the Apple Dongle Ultra.

View attachment 2125219

The device must have a USB-C connector with USB PD support. Adapters are not sufficient. They can offer an adapter the other way, of course.

TB4 uses USB-C as a connector, but it is not USB-C. While the articles says it should be USB-C.

...

 

[AppleTO]

So I guess older phones can’t be sold anymore either?

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

if they wait until iPhone 16 that would mean they would no longer be able to sell the previous years model in the EU which they always tend to sell for a lower price so that wouldn't really make too much sense to wait until that time

I wonder if this is true, or whether they'll be able to keep selling old SKUs after the date. I'd imagine it only applies to new products launched after the date?

 

[jlc1978]

But USB-C != Thunderbolt 4.

The directive only covers power connections, not data protocols.

 

[Basic75]

The rule is that if it has a charging ports at least one of them must be usbC...so apple will go with usbC or portless

If they go with USB-C I'll finally upgrade from my XS. I skipped the 13 and 14 because they don't have USB-C. If they go portless I'll take a long hard look at Android phones.

 

[Juvencus]

Imagine defending a multi-trillionaire corporation. If it was up to Apple, we would be stuck with the extremely outdated Lightning port for another 10 years because of charger licensing greed.

The EU law is much more flexible to new technologies and ports compared to Apple's stance on...anything new. Not that anyone bothered to read the law itself.

 

[t0rqx]

Would not surprise me if they pull this BS again. Great upgrades for iPhone 15 and to make a upgrade move again include minor improvements on 16 but with the introduction of USB-C. iPhone is the biggest money maker and they need to milk every penny if possible!

 

[Basic75]

People always love to say „this will stop innovation“ yeah right, Apple is still using the same connector from literally 10 years ago on the iPhone today

At USB 2.0 speeds!

 

[Kevrani]

I for one, am very pleased with this. Considering all my other Apple devices use USB-C, it's daft that the iPhone has already moved to the same port.

 

[Born Again]

What next? EU demands all phones have an EU flag displayed at boot up?
No wonder the EU is increasingly unpopular.

Yes that’s next Tim Apple. 🙄

 

[Kevrani]

At USB 2.0 speeds!

So Apple updated iPhone to fast charge using USB-C to Lightning, but not the data speed? That's very telling!

 

[Bustycat]

I really hate when I accidentally put the Lightning plug into the USB-C receptacle on my computer. The earlier to end the better.

 

[imdog]

Imagine defending a multi-trillionaire corporation. If it was up to Apple, we would be stuck with the extremely outdated Lightning port for another 10 years because of charger licensing greed.

The EU law is much more flexible to new technologies and ports compared to Apple's stance on...anything new. Not that anyone bothered to read the law itself.

Imagine defending an unelected corrupt supranational political organization that violates national sovereignty.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

The EU are even more morally bankrupt than Apple with Tim Crook at the helm. The fact some trans-National organization can dictate what charging port a private company can use is insane.

Apple isn’t a private company.

 

[Jim Lahey]

We can and should laud this, but beware those who come bearing gifts. The EU meddlers are not your friends. This week it’s USB-C, but what about next week? We already know they want to build their own backdoor into consumer encryption.

 

[VogonPoetry]

The USB C connector is fine but those praising the EU for dictating which connector can be used for power delivery should be aware that when they first tried to introduce this law they were going to force companies to use the execrable micro-USB connector.
Thankfully they failed at the time and are now forcing the use of USB C instead, the design of which was directly influenced by Apple's reversible Lightning connector. In short, they're insisting people use a connector that their own short-sighted laws would almost certainly have prevented from existing.

 

[Bustycat]

Imagine defending an unelected corrupt supranational political organization that violates national sovereignty.

The United Kingdom is the most intelligent European country.

 

[roop27]

why is this a surprise to some of you? Apple already has migrated the macbook/iPad to USB-C. Being forced to move one last product can only help the the consumer using a unified system.