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If Apple cared about the environment and e-waste as they claim they do, instead of releasing a new USB-C case they could have just released a 10$ USB-C female to Lightening male adapter. This could have solved this “problem” for all devices still using Lightening plugs.

I mean, this could be a universal one-fits-all solution, instead of making zillions of new cases for AirPods that have a 2-3 years lifespan anyway, then their built-in batteries degrade.
They’re only switching because they were made to.
 
I believe you mean apples decision to implement proprietary charging created A lot of e waste.
Apple proprietary charger is a standard at this point; how long has the same interface been used? How many millions of products use it? ...
 
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Never used charging port I only use MagSafe charging

Same but still, if one was in the market for them today it’s still best to wait to get them with USB-C. Why buy the very last generation with Lightning? Same logic with the iPhone 14. We know it’s going to be obsolete soon. Unless you absolutely need one right now why not wait until it’s replaced?
 
Keep telling yourself that Apple said they would get no less than 10 years out of lighting. How many years has it been now? Now when people freak out about having to buy new cables, Apple can say, the EU made us, blame them...

Ten years. Not like Apple would hold themselves to it but Schiller said “the connector for the next ten years.” Frankly it’s long overdue. In fact I think Lightning was a mistake in the first place. They didn’t have the ”courage” to push forward with the industry standard connector that they helped invent.
 
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Apple proprietary charger is a standard at this point; how long has the same interface been used? How many millions of products use it? ...

One could argue that it’s a de facto standard. Might be splitting hairs over the definition of the word “standard” but I don’t think you can call an interface used by exactly one and only one company a standard, no matter how many products that company sells. If every other company standardizes on one port and just one company insists on using a different one, that’s not a standard.

It’s like saying Windows is the standard operating system for computers. De facto yes but it’s not actually a standard. But that would actually be more correct than calling Lightning a standard since Windows is the majority and Lightning is not.
 
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One could argue that it’s a de facto standard. Might be splitting hairs over the definition of the word “standard” but I don’t think you can call an interface used by exactly one and only one company a standard, no matter how many products that company sells. If every other company standardizes on one port and just one company insists on using a different one, that’s not a standard.

It’s like saying Windows is the standard operating system for computers. De facto yes but it’s not actually a standard. But that would actually be more correct than calling Lightning a standard since Windows is the majority and Lightning is not.
In 10 years, how often have phones other than Apple changed to a new USB standard?
 
Ten years. Not like Apple would hold themselves to it but Schiller said “the connector for the next ten years.” Frankly it’s long overdue. In fact I think Lightning was a mistake in the first place. They didn’t have the ”courage” to push forward with the industry standard connector that they helped invent.
The design they helped invent was finalized in 2014, while the first Lightning iPhone went on sale in 2012. Also, USB C was based in part on Lightning, so arguably, USB C would not exist if it weren't for Lightning.

So it wasn't for lack of courage, but lack of time travel (Time Machine isn't an actual time machine).
 
In 10 years, how often have phones other than Apple changed to a new USB standard?
In that 10 years, you had phones with micro USB, mini USB, micro USB super speed (pictured), and of course now USB C. That's a lot of wasted cables!

2922653
 
"One more thing: This next generation port that we've been working on for years is simply magical. It is unlike anything on the market today. We call it the Lightning Pro. (hysterical applause) All iPhone 15 models come equipped with the much loved Lightning port, and can be upgraded to the new Lightning Pro for only $19.99 per month. We think you'll love it." (standing ovation)
 
USB-C vs Lighting is a debate only relevant to a tiny minority!
I'm not bothered either way, however which ever way you spin it, the EU directive will create a lot of unnecessary e-waste 😏
You can buy cheap adapters from Amazon that convert the lightning cable end to USB-C for charging.
 
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There are literal billions of more devices using USB-C than there are lightning ports. USB-C is the standard.
I was mainly playing devil's advocate using millions; there are over a billion iPhones, and how many other billions of items like touchpads, keyboards, etc.?
 
Why does anyone listen to this con man? He is beyond annoying with his stupid predictions. I think Eva and her crystal ball could do a much better job. Unless you like reading how the next whatever will likely have an on/off switch!
 
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There's only a handful of people in this thread declaring how they "only use wireless charging" so far, the MacRumors equivalent of "well I don't even OWN a TV!" and I'm somewhat disappointed. Come on, friends! We can't have a discussion about inane connector standards without a scatterplot of off-topic narcissism to fuel those clicks and get the post count on this sidebar, holiday-weekend story up into the 300+ range.

Together, we can make the magical and amazing happen.™
 
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thank EU for all of this ewaste
Are you buying a usb-c iphone when it comes out? if so you can give your old cables to friends/family/coworkers who continue to use lighning this also helps them from buying more cables when theirs get damaged while their on the old connector.

it becomes ewaste when you throw away a perfectly good item.
 
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One could argue that it’s a de facto standard. Might be splitting hairs over the definition of the word “standard” but I don’t think you can call an interface used by exactly one and only one company a standard, no matter how many products that company sells. If every other company standardizes on one port and just one company insists on using a different one, that’s not a standard.

It’s like saying Windows is the standard operating system for computers. De facto yes but it’s not actually a standard. But that would actually be more correct than calling Lightning a standard since Windows is the majority and Lightning is not.
Tell that to Tesla and their completely unique “standard” of charging plug for automobiles - also for the past decade - (there are 4 other standards as well). It is considered a “Standard”. And to your “Windows” analogy, unlike Apple’s relatively small share of the computer market, Apple sells 8 of the top 10 selling phones. And twice the market share of of phones of the next competitor, Samsung. It is on billions of products. It absolutely is a “standard”. Even if, as in the case of Tesla, it has been proprietary to one manufacturer.

(In November 2022, Tesla renamed its previously proprietary charging connector to "North American Charging Standard" (NACS) and opened the standard to other manufacturers - now Ford, GM, Rivian, Polestar, and Volvo have announced they will adopt it)
 
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For me this is a short-term pain for long-term gain kind of situation. Both my wife and I have iPhones and AirPods with Lightening chargers and moving to USB-C means we have to buy new cables when we get new phones. I already have USB-C cables, but not nearly enough.

That being said, it'll allow me to use the same charger for my phones, my computers, my other electronics or simply borrow a charger from a colleague with an Android at work. I'm not sure what tangible benefit other than already being there Lightning offers at this point.
 
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