Other iPhone 15: Passive-aggressive version?

[Janichsan]

Well, if Apple want to continue selling iPhone 15 past-2024, it might be a good idea to make them compliant beforehand.

They still can. The rule only applies for new devices released from 2024 on. Older devices still on sale are exempt.

 

[CalebEdenburn]

I kinda understood. But the wording made my head spin.

I‘ll say this much. I HATE the sound my iPad Pro makes when I unplug it from its USB-C port. It’s like metal on metal. It sounds like I’m breaking something.

I know everyone wants USB-C, but Lightning is so gentle and smooth. Unpopular opinion, I know.

I totally agree. I have an iPad mini 6 and I cringe whenever I plug it in.

 

[EmotionalSnow]

I recall that their response was very narrowly worded as "We will comply with the law", not "We will use usb-c". So I was worried that they may try to use that as a technicality.

Well, wireless charging still isn't perfect. I highly doubt they would consider doing something like that, the very real possibility of losing a lot of customers is just too high. And what would be the gain of such a spiteful action? Nothing really, because they'd still have to make a different model just for Europe.

I doubt that they'd make enough money with wireless chargers to offset the lost iPhone customers, they already make money when you buy their normal chargers and will continue to even with USB C, so there's not much to gain. Besides that, how many people will really buy a wireless charger from Apple and not a cheaper third party option?

 

[jaytv111]

The most passive-aggressive they will get is they will remove the USB cable entirely and say “well it’s all universal in compliance with the law so we don’t need to put a cable in any more”. And the box will be even thinner as a result!

We’re not ready for wireless everything, what with firmware loading and things.

 

[StumpyBloke]

I just had a worrying thought. In "accordance" with European law, Apple might ship iPhone 15 with lightning for the rest of the world, but then seal up the port for sales in Europe. This would be technically in accordance with European law while unleashing a worldwide blaming bitchfest with corporate shills everywhere pretending that Apple had no choice.

Is there any risk of this happening? Or am I just being paranoid.

exactly zero risk

 

[timmodugdale]

I‘ll never wireless charge due to the heat.

Interesting...I only charge wirelessly. I never use the port on my iPhone. They could take it away and I'd be happy. But I recognize that I'm an outlier.

 

[gpat]

I just had a worrying thought. In "accordance" with European law, Apple might ship iPhone 15 with lightning for the rest of the world, but then seal up the port for sales in Europe. This would be technically in accordance with European law while unleashing a worldwide blaming bitchfest with corporate shills everywhere pretending that Apple had no choice.

Is there any risk of this happening? Or am I just being paranoid.

Apple can ship a Lightning iPhone 15 in Europe.
They just have to place an USB-C port next to the Lightning one.

 

[jaytv111]

Apple can ship a Lightning iPhone 15 in Europe.
They just have to place an USB-C port next to the Lightning one.

They don’t have to have USB-C, OP is saying the Euro version could be wireless only so it won’t be required to have USB-C, but in a twist it has a Lightning port but it’s covered over to save costs. Officially it will have no port, which is allowed.

It’s similar to eSIM only on US iPhones because they have the area where physical SIM is but they put a plastic filler instead of doing anything with the spot. That was a little passive aggressive too as they really want the whole world to get rid of physical SIM but many carriers worldwide don’t even support eSIM at all.

 

[Jackbequickly]

Lightning is fine with me but so is USB-C. Just because Apple puts USB-C on the new iPhone does not mean upload and download speed will increase that much. Only thing I use my 14PM port for is charging.

 

[Jackbequickly]

They don’t have to have USB-C, OP is saying the Euro version could be wireless only so it won’t be required to have USB-C, but in a twist it has a Lightning port but it’s covered over to save costs. Officially it will have no port, which is allowed.

It’s similar to eSIM only on US iPhones because they have the area where physical SIM is but they put a plastic filler instead of doing anything with the spot. That was a little passive aggressive too as they really want the whole world to get rid of physical SIM but many carriers worldwide don’t even support eSIM at all.

eSIMs will be the standard one day, worldwide. The days of the Wild West were you can switch our your SIM card easily will be over.

 

[LacrosseChic]

I really hope they don’t do the wireless only in Europe. I would definitely hold on to my 14 pm for a long time if they did

 

[ph.rei]

They will make a uniform solution. No way they gonna be making two different versions with two different ports or seal things up. This is highly inefficient too many SKU’s.

They did it already afaik, with the sim card slots. I heard there are models of iPhone 14 series in the US without sim trays.

 

[Motionblurrr]

Steve Jobs would've told the EU to frig off.

 

[Rainshadow]

As mentioned earlier the iPhone 15 doesn't even need a USB-C port. This rule comes into effect for products released after Dec 2024 so even the iPhone 16 could have Lightning with the regular September schedule. iPhone 15 having USB-C is really Apple's choice.

Not if they want to have a lineup of lower end phones to sell below the 17. Right? Apple keeps the last few generations around nowadays. If they don’t switch now, then they won’t have any phones to sell under the flagship.

Unless I misunderstood the law. No devices sold without USBC that have a port would include iPhone 15 even in 2024. Meaning they could only sell the iPhone 17. This law doesn’t only affect new product launches, does it?

EDIT:

Apparently I’m wrong:
“Products that went on sale before the date of application will be exempt and can continue to be sold after that point.”

 

[Algr]

This law doesn’t only affect new product launches, does it?

Old models are grandfathered in, it's just the new ones that are affected.

=====================
Here is an important point: Does anyone actually WANT lightning over USB-C? Apple has neglected lightning for most of its history. It was supposed to be this incredible meta-standard that could encapsulate other standards, but all it ever really does is transmit USB 2. When Apple first put USB-C on an iPad, that should have been the end of lightning. Lighting was too slow and limited, and Apple wasn't going to fix it. But years later, here we are. What is going on?

 

[Fat_Guy]

Old models are grandfathered in, it's just the new ones that are affected.

=====================
Here is an important point: Does anyone actually WANT lightning over USB-C? Apple has neglected lightning for most of its history. It was supposed to be this incredible meta-standard that could encapsulate other standards, but all it ever really does is transmit USB 2. When Apple first put USB-C on an iPad, that should have been the end of lightning. Lighting was too slow and limited, and Apple wasn't going to fix it. But years later, here we are. What is going on?

I want lightning over USB C.


More robust design for male and female parts. More secure when connected, and less likely to slip off when in use. All my iPhones, both my Airpods all use lightning so traveling with both connectors is a hassle and more waste.


With the exception of YouTubers and professional photographers, the speed increase does not matter. In fact all regular iPhones 15s will have the same data transfer speed as lightening.


I want to jump from lightning to portless on all devices and figure two to three years max.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Apple would save on component costs and earn revenue from mandatory MagSafe wireless charging. What's not to like?

I think it’s more likely consumers will buy cheaper wireless chargers off Amazon than MagSafe which is around £59 for the charger and plug from Apple. They aren’t the only company offering magnetic puck wireless chargers anymore, much like people don’t spend £25 on Apples lightning leads now when there’s a plethora of alternatives of a better quality from the likes of Belkin and Anker.

 

[compwiz1202]

The most passive-aggressive they will get is they will remove the USB cable entirely and say “well it’s all universal in compliance with the law so we don’t need to put a cable in any more”. And the box will be even thinner as a result!

We’re not ready for wireless everything, what with firmware loading and things.

I think the ultimate would be the one I was thinking where they give USB C to all but give everyone else 3.# speeds and give EU as slow as they can possibly stilll buiid with USB-C. Heck does the ruling even state it needs to support data? Could it be charging only and be compliant?

 

[jaytv111]

I think the ultimate would be the one I was thinking where they give USB C to all but give everyone else 3.# speeds and give EU as slow as they can possibly stilll buiid with USB-C. Heck does the ruling even state it needs to support data? Could it be charging only and be compliant?

USB 2.0 is the lowest for type C (just like Lightning).

Yes the EU regulations are only regarding charging. They can’t regulate whether a device supports Superspeed data or not. They want devices to use the same cable, but one device having lower data speeds isn’t a big environmental issue or e-waste issue.

 

[nvarsj]

I kinda understood. But the wording made my head spin.

I‘ll say this much. I HATE the sound my iPad Pro makes when I unplug it from its USB-C port. It’s like metal on metal. It sounds like I’m breaking something.

I know everyone wants USB-C, but Lightning is so gentle and smooth. Unpopular opinion, I know.

No offense but this has to be one of the silliest things I've ever read on here. Are you kidding me? Lol. Me, I can't wait to stop having to carry a freakin' lightning cable JUST FOR MY PHONE everywhere.

 

[I7guy]

Almost nothing wireless works well. I went through several bluetooth headphones before going back to wired. Controlling my DJI camera from my phone is very slow to connect and quits at critical moments. Transmitting wirelessly from my phone to my TV comes out looking like VHS. And "wireless" charging means a wire with a giant circular port.

I'd like to offer a correction: "almost nothing wireless that you own, works well. I still have my Bose qcII and they are still kicking. I have my OG Airpods. Airplay to my TV is quite good. I agree wireless is less efficient and generates heat, but I'm willing to trade convenience for battery life. As far as more expensive, I'd like to see a study that shows a yearly difference between wired and wireless charging.

 

[I7guy]

No offense but this has to be one of the silliest things I've ever read on here. Are you kidding me? Lol. Me, I can't wait to stop having to carry a freakin' lightning cable JUST FOR MY PHONE everywhere.

No offense either, but such a pejorative post over a cable? Carrying two cables instead of one cable is a dealbreaker? Different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[Algr]

"almost nothing wireless that you own, works well.

What difference is it to me that some item that doesn't meet my needs suits some other person? Are we so far gone from things that "just work"?

Some problems are inherent to the technology. You can't use bluetooth with videogames due to lag. Even solitaire felt awkward with the sfx delayed. Bluetooth isn't fast enough for video, WiFi isn't designed for peer-to-peer, so connecting a phone to a camera will always be clumsy.

 

[I7guy]

What difference is it to me that some item that doesn't meet my needs suits some other person? Are we so far gone from things that "just work"?

Some problems are inherent to the technology. You can't use bluetooth with videogames due to lag. Even solitaire felt awkward with the sfx delayed. Bluetooth isn't fast enough for video, WiFi isn't designed for peer-to-peer, so connecting a phone to a camera will always be clumsy.

Does "just works" mean that 100% of every customer who buys an iphone will never have a problem, ever? Of course the answer is no, stuff happens. And as you noted, stuff happens outside of Apple's control. Bluetooth and wifi have inherent limitations. Batteries also have limitations.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

eSIMs will be the standard one day, worldwide. The days of the Wild West were you can switch our your SIM card easily will be over.

I miss those days. Made tinkering much more enjoyable. I haven’t had an Android in years because it’s a massive pain to get the line switched back and forth.

I want lightning over USB C.


More robust design for male and female parts. More secure when connected, and less likely to slip off when in use. All my iPhones, both my Airpods all use lightning so traveling with both connectors is a hassle and more waste.


With the exception of YouTubers and professional photographers, the speed increase does not matter. In fact all regular iPhones 15s will have the same data transfer speed as lightening.


I want to jump from lightning to portless on all devices and figure two to three years max.

Well said. I have three sets of AirPods and my iPhone that charge with lightning. On the other hand, I have a MacBook Air and an iPad Air that require USB-C and it’s been nothing but an inconvenience when I’ve got years worth of lightning cables lying around.

No offense but this has to be one of the silliest things I've ever read on here. Are you kidding me? Lol. Me, I can't wait to stop having to carry a freakin' lightning cable JUST FOR MY PHONE everywhere.

You’ve clearly never taken a stroll through the Wasteland. Comedy gold.