EU Warns Apple About Limiting Speeds of Uncertified USB-C Cables for iPhones

Nice to see the EU getting ahead of the game and warning against grey-area behaviour.

MacRumors said:
It is worth emphasizing that Apple potentially limiting the functionality of uncertified USB-C cables connected to iPhone 15 models is only a rumor for now, so it remains to be seen whether or not the company actually moves forward with the alleged plans. iPads with USB-C ports do not have an authentication chip for this purpose.
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Rumor site is self-aware it's a rumour site!

Seems to come from the same list of events Steve Jobs was working from when he stated “Hell froze over.”… a portent of something?
 
zorinlynx said:
I really have to give a big thank you to the EU for trying to save us from proprietary cable mayhem. Wish we had similar consumer protection laws in the US.
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So you wish to thank the EU for trying to force tech suppliers who know about IT, to use USB-C when Apple had already announced it was going to do so, and where the rumour they were going to limit the USB-C seems highly unlikely as it would not then fulfil the USB-C category!

What the EU and others really like, is fining people to raise cash almost nonsense and thwarting innovation in the process, but where then their real aim is a back door, because these same people, the same EU in particular are trying to ban end to end encryption using spurious argument.
 
mrat93 said:
I know at least two people whose official Apple Lightning cables have frayed and produced smoke.

Hell, let’s push for Apple to implement MFi power bricks. Shoddy power bricks are more dangerous than shoddy cables.
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Power brick, is that why my stuff keeps exploding when I splice the USB cable directly into the wall current? What is this power brick you are speaking of?
 
I7guy said:
Im sure apple will comply with the letter of the law. I want to thank the EU for equate that will accrue due to people throwing out their lightning cables.
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You know what would have prevented a lot of this e-waste? Apple switching to USB-C years ago when it was clear that it would be the standard for years to come.

Also, if Apple cared to prevent Lightning e-waste, they’d have offered USB-C as an option for AirPods. Still waiting on that.
 
Freida said:
Moving from EU to NA made me realise how much consumer protection I had a privilege to get when being in EU. Here in NA its shocking how badly the consumer is not protected. Starting with warranty to delayed flights etc. Its a mess.

I wish EU was in NA too. Maybe called NAU :)

All of us would benefit
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Yet it seems the majority of litigants are in NA?

I well recall a friend who worked on a Disney ship, where an emergency helicopter had to land one night to ferry a sick passenger.

In the morning a passenger asked him what the noise was, and being a prankster he told them that it was the crew leaving for shore as they did every night.

At the end of the trip, there were about 50 passengers that said they wanted refunds because of the constant noise of the crew leaving the ship every night!
 
SpaceJello said:
Gotta say, love how EU may be jumping the gun here as it is “rumored’. 🤣🤣🤣

And, are all USB C cables made the same? I am pretty sure different electronics would prevent different cables from working for whatever reasons.
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USB-C is just the connector type. Checking Amazon there are a ton of Android-compatible USB-C cables limited to 480mbps.
 
anson42 said:
A lot of this is out of Apple's control, too. Anyone buying a USB-C "charge cable" can easily wind up with one that only supports USB 2.0 data transfer speeds. Amazon is filled with such cables.
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I think that in 2023, very few people care about higher data transfer rates, and more people care about faster charging speeds.

I own lots of USB 2.0 USB-C cables which I bought for charging purposes. I’m pretty sure that Apple’s included USB-C cables are mostly USB 2.0.
 
We consumers do not need profit-motivated shenanigans with standardized ports. We have a real chance to FINALLY arrive at "one cable to rule them all." Apple started(?) this by putting USBc in that MB mini MANY years ago. Was that like 6-8 years ago now?

They could have completed the transition some years ago with their own offering by doing what they've already done with iPads... but the easy Mfi money in proprietary motivates clinging to Lightning in one of 3 main legs of Apple's product mix.

It's unfortunate that GOV entities have to force Apple to finish what it started. But I welcome finally getting to the point where I could have a single cable in the bag and it work with ALL of my Apple stuff instead of most of it. Sometimes what is best for the customer is MORE important than what makes the most possible money for a corporation. Too bad we need the strength of GOV to have to drive that kind of benefit for us consumers.
 
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MacRumors said:
In response to this rumor, European Commissioner Thierry Breton has sent Apple a letter warning the company that limiting the functionality of USB-C cables would not be permitted and would prevent iPhones from being sold in the EU when the law goes into effect, according to German newspaper Die Zeit.
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Thanks, commissioner! You're a lifesaver.

Though I have to wonder how much more they can push Apple until they just jumps out of there... not likely due to lots of sales from the EU, but still. There is a limit.
 
I'm happy they're being forced to switch to USB-C, and I don't care that the speed will be limited to existing speeds with 3rd party (cheap-*ss) cables – only because it means not having to carry one more cable.

BUT, in the grand scheme of things, I don't like government(s) deciding what and how an independent company can sell their own products.
 
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Crzyrio said:
With ****** $2 cables floating around that could potentially cause harm to the users, I don't see anything wrong with a limitation if the device does not have a way to verify it is capable of handling the power.

We are close to more then tripling the amount of power running through these cables from what the original USB was capable off.
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If you cheap out on cables, it's on you.
 
Just to be clear, this is not about data speeds. This is about the amount of current that the cable can support. There are lots of USB C cables on the market that can't support that level of charging. If you use them at full current, bad things can happen. I understand why the EU does not want Apple to have a monopoly. Just have the industry get together and set up a trade group for standards. If your product does not meet standards, you don't get the chip and charging will be slower.
 
icanhazmac said:
So the EU will compensate people who have their phones destroyed by cheap cables from China? Will they compensate people who have property destroyed when cheap cables melt and start fires? Complain all you want about MFI certifications but at least it guarantees that the cable will be robust enough to handle the draw from the device.
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what a utterly extreme take, i got plenty of usb-c tb3 and tb4 cables that can more than handle whatever usbc apple certified cables can do, but under the "rumor" my overkilled tb4 cables would be limited?
 
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