Top Lightning-Based Apple Products That Must Switch to USB-C by 2025 for EU Sale

[AirunJae]

USB-C Supports USB 2.0 speeds, there is no requirement for the port to support USB 3.0 speeds. So.. I see a chance that Apple would keep it USB 2.0.

Or they could go completely wireless. (no more charge port)

Why ya gotta break my heart like that! 😭 No requirement sure, but it’s kind of embarrassing that the Pro camera has all these high-end features that create large file sizes that make it difficult to offload except through iCloud Photo and AirDrop, both of which can have their issues at times. I guess I'll hope for the best, lol

 

[darkus]

You say this while hilariously ignoring that Apple is choosing to use a connector that has long jumped the shark. You’re also viewing this incorrectly, as an antagonistic relationship. The EU isn’t trying to lock people into outdated technology (that would be Apple). I have no doubt that if 10 years from now a new higher performance connector is created, that the EU would listen to a consortium of tech companies asking to have the standard changed.

Seems naive to believe that. If you know there is a law demanding usb-c, why would anyone put money and time into making a newer better plug?

In your lifetime or your parents lifetime has the AC outlet plug changed?

Once government mandates a standard it doesn’t tend to change unless the government itself forms a committee to change it.

Private innovation tends to just stop.

As usual with these government mandates, they seem amazing at the moment (as this one does) but is amazingly shortsighted in the long run, but we won’t even know how short sighted because there will be an opportunity cost of some new tech that we won’t even know could have existed.

 

[compwiz1202]

Any company should be able to charge any product they make any way they want.

Agree except I don't think their should be tons of different proprietary. Lightning or C are so common, you can just go to the store to get another cable/charger. You don't have to find the model to search for the right charger, and then wait for it to arrive.

 

[compwiz1202]

Let’s put it this way: I’m not saying my girlfriend _doesn’t_ chew on cables like rats, but every cable that goes into her car never makes it out alive. Cables in my office will be here after the nuclear bombs drop and it’s just the cockroaches.

Any A>L I've had right from the iPhone box has eventually frayed. C>L have been fine along with the Anker ones I buy.

 

[Richdmoore]

Everyone loves to jump on the USB-C connector bandwagon, but no one wants to address the dumpster fire that android OEMs made of cables with USB-C connectors.

Agree completely. Really any usb cable has these problems.

I don’t know how often I have had problems with a usb device not being recognized, then realized somehow some crappy (charge only) cable worked it’s way into my spare cable bag.

 

[AirunJae]

I should have been clearer, I am not referring to the wireless charging on an iPhone. I'm talking about MagSafe on a laptop. It's a brilliant design, and saved me many times from pulling my laptop onto the floor. I don't see how they can continue using something like it with this legislation.

By continuing to have USB-C charging available on the device? I presume/hope that if there's more than 1 way to charge the device, as long as you have USB-C, you're fine. So Apple could theoretically keep Lightning on the iPhone if they also had a USB-C connection 🙃

 

[PlainBelliedSneetch]

This is where we disagree, but we can agree that currently no locale exists with differing port installations.

I agree lightning as a concept is better but current execution has more to be desired, even wanting to transfer large files off a phone without media conversion is a pain

It sounds like the EU requirement is only for charging. Apple could make a “special” EU model with USB-C connector at USB 2.0 data rates. And just for fun, they could upgrade the US model‘s lightning port to USB 3.0.

 

[icolove]

Well, Apple will probably make the mistake of going wireless charging only.

 

[icolove]

Seems naive to believe that. If you know there is a law demanding usb-c, why would anyone put money and time into making a newer better plug?

In your lifetime or your parents lifetime has the AC outlet plug changed?

Once government mandates a standard it doesn’t tend to change unless the government itself forms a committee to change it.

Private innovation tends to just stop.

As usual with these government mandates, they seem amazing at the moment (as this one does) but is amazingly shortsighted in the long run, but we won’t even know how short sighted because there will be an opportunity cost of some new tech that we won’t even know could have existed.

It seems that you don't understand how all of this works. There are plenty of laws like this across all sorts of industries and they evolve with advancements.

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

Forget the EU
I just want to copy over my photos and videos like it’s 2022

And no, I don’t trust Wi-Fi to do a good enough job, give us USB 3.1 gen2 or thunderbolt speeds already

 

[AirunJae]

Everyone loves to jump on the USB-C connector bandwagon, but no one wants to address the dumpster fire that android OEMs made of cables with USB-C connectors.

I don't think this is entirely Android OEMs fault, but partially an issue with how the standard has been handled. There have been a ton of revisions to USB-C with charging speeds, data speeds, is this cable charging only? etc, in part because not every cable necessarily needs to be able to handle high data throughput, but this makes things confusing as every USB-C cable looks exactly the same with no sort of indication once it's out of the box.

 

[compwiz1202]

Gonna be honest with you fam: A portless iPhone is a horrible idea on so many levels. Data transfer through wireless is jank and awful and slow, as is wireless charging. Not to mention going portless makes OS and data recovery a nightmare or near impossible. Professionals wanted USB-C on the iPhone for a reason.

And this isn't even counting headphones. It was bad enough when they cut the headphone jack. With no port for a dongle then wired headphones can't be used period, which means no more lossless quality or aux power.

And CarPlay. Most aren't going to have the funds to get a whole new car for Wireless, and I still read the adapters aren't very consistent.

 

[compwiz1202]

Agree completely. Really any usb cable has these problems.

I don’t know how often I have had problems with a usb device not being recognized, then realized somehow some crappy (charge only) cable worked it’s way into my spare cable bag.

Agree or the top speeds are different with the same interface

 

[mjs916]

I don’t get why some people defend Apple for keeping the Lightening port. Do they like to carry separate cables for their iPads & Macs and iPhones & AirPods?

Even Apple’s own product lineup is using different ports, how isn’t this annoying? I’m glad EU is pushing for standardization.

When my wife needs to charge two items at once, at fast speeds, she uses two cables on one power brick. Even if they were both USB C to Lightning instead of USB-C to lightning and USB-C to USB-C, she’d still have two cables.

If it were me, the laptop would be charged at home and the phone would charge from the laptop… just one cable when on the go, but she ALWAYS forgets/neglects to charge her devices so she frequently finds herself needing both. It’s why I got her a dual port fast charger. I suspect there are lots of people like her that just don’t care about streamlining/minimizing their gear. That’s what pouches, purses and backpacks are for apparently.

 

[Woochoo]

" Any consortium or corporation can come up with a better connector any time." Lol. What happens when a new connection, better than USB C comes out? guess what? Can't use it or they need to change the laws.

You are right, it’s better to keep living with a propietary expensive connector that only does USB 2.0 speeds, that’s the innovation that benefits everyone in the land of freedom!

By the way USB C is just a connector, not a protocol. Answering to your question: what happens if something better/faster comes out? It gets included/mimiked in USB protocol (compatible with USB C), like thunderbolt 3 speeds now in USB 4.0, and everybody benefits. And if USB C becomes outdated in some years, which probably will because that’s how technology works, a new standard connector will come and be adapted. There’s a reason why Apple killed Firewire or Thunderbolt 1.0 in favour of USB that includes newer Thunderbolt compatibility in all their other products. Yet you still clap with your ears when Apple still uses lighting in iPhones for the sake of making money from lighting licenses in accessories.

 

[JRDNXr]

ALL OF THEM SHOULD. Lightning was nice when it came out, but it is basically USB from 1992. The file sizes we use today, the expectations of interoperability, power delivery, etc. has rendered Lightning obsolete years ago.

And stop being innocent and defend Apple “this will stifle innovation”. No! Any consortium or corporation can come up with a better connector any time. Apple keeps Lightning around because they make money out of it, end of the story.

This x100. Couldn't agree more.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Good thing this will have worldwide impact. Apple isn't going to make an iPhone with two different connectors.

I mean they already make an iPhone with a physical SIM card tray and one that doesn't just for the US. (thanks for that btw Apple very helpful for phone swapping and international travelers. /s)

 

[SmugMaverick]

I wonder if the UK will follow suit?

Regardless of what Rees Mogg the haunted Victorian pencil said about this matter a few months ago, we won’t have a choice thankfully because all European iPhones come from the same place and no way will they make a special case just for the UK being thick.

It’s about bloody time we moved to a faster data transfer for so called “pro” phones. Disgusting that the 14 pro still uses that dinosaur connection.

And no chance we get a port less iPhone before 2030, it would cause so so many issues and the infrastructure isn’t there for it like wireless CarPlay yet or stable data transfers.

Going portless is literally no different to lightning, it’s still a separate cable needed to charge. No thanks.

 

[SmugMaverick]

I mean they already make an iPhone with a physical SIM card tray and one that doesn't just for the US. (thanks for that btw Apple very helpful for phone swapping and international travelers. /s)

Pretty sure Europe will get those esim only models next year as well.

All our networks in UK support it but they’ve no need to promote it so far.

And US models also has the 5G band on the side that no one else has. If anyone keeps lightning it’ll be just the US probably.

 

[mikethemartian]

Seems naive to believe that. If you know there is a law demanding usb-c, why would anyone put money and time into making a newer better plug?

In your lifetime or your parents lifetime has the AC outlet plug changed?

Once government mandates a standard it doesn’t tend to change unless the government itself forms a committee to change it.

Private innovation tends to just stop.

As usual with these government mandates, they seem amazing at the moment (as this one does) but is amazingly shortsighted in the long run, but we won’t even know how short sighted because there will be an opportunity cost of some new tech that we won’t even know could have existed.

What sort of innovation are you looking for in AC outlets?

 

[SactoGuy18]

Essentially, Apple will replace the Lightning connector with the same USB Type C connector used on the iPad Air and iPad Mini: charging rates possibly up to 40 watts and 10 gigabit per second connectivity.

 

[ct2k7]

Seems naive to believe that. If you know there is a law demanding usb-c, why would anyone put money and time into making a newer better plug?

In your lifetime or your parents lifetime has the AC outlet plug changed?

Once government mandates a standard it doesn’t tend to change unless the government itself forms a committee to change it.

Private innovation tends to just stop.

As usual with these government mandates, they seem amazing at the moment (as this one does) but is amazingly shortsighted in the long run, but we won’t even know how short sighted because there will be an opportunity cost of some new tech that we won’t even know could have existed.

Do AC outlets need to change and has there been a newer standard which supersedes the existing one in safety and functionality?

 

[ct2k7]

Pretty sure Europe will get those esim only models next year as well.

All our networks in UK support it but they’ve no need to promote it so far.

And US models also has the 5G band on the side that no one else has. If anyone keeps lightning it’ll be just the US probably.

EE charge to replace eSIMs this year…

 

[zorinlynx]

My bet is Apple ditches the port altogether and releases MagSafe 2 which charges as fast as current fast chargers somehow. Apple will start selling a wireless DAC that lets you plug regular headphones into it.

How would you DFU restore an otherwise bricked iPhone without the port?

 

[jimbobb24]

Plenty of people disagree with legislation. There's a process call an election where countries can elect representatives.
In this case, the representatives gave a majority vote in favour.

I guess you're in favour of having tonnes of different cables for various different things?

Imagine living in 2022 and thinking the election process cleanly represents the will of the people. There is lobbying, information asymmetry *1000, special interests, and a million other things between your vote and a law like this. What we do know is that when people vote with actual money very few of them care at all about lightning vs USBC. That’s the obvious and clear will or the people.