Explained: Why Apple may be forced to change its charging system – Times of India

What does the EU’s common charger directive mean?

Earlier this year, the European Union agreed to implement a rule which will ensure that a common charging port is used for a host of electronics devices.

When does the rule come into existence and which devices will be affected?

The common charger type rule will be implemented by the second half of 2024. Most device manufacturers, according to online reports, have said that in the next 24 months they will ensure their hardware complies with the Type-C port rule. Almost every consumer electronic device will be affected. Mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers that are rechargeable via a wired cable will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of their manufacturer.

Why is EU implementing the common charger rule?

According to the European Parliament, consumers will be able to save up to 250 million euros a year by avoiding unnecessary buying of multiple chargers. Further, the EU said that the disposed of and unused chargers are estimated to represent about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. “This law is a part of a broader EU effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, to reduce electronic waste, and make consumers’ lives easier,” said the European Parliament.

What does this new rule mean for Apple iPhone?

It was in 2013 when Apple introduced the lightning port for the first time with iPhone 5. But the EU’s proposed rule change will mean that Apple will have no choice but to accept it. Rumours suggest that Apple has started working on making the switch to Type-C and may be able to do it as early as 2023. This means that the next to next iPhone — 2024 model — could come with a Type-C port.

Will all iPhones have a Type-C charging port?

That may not happen entirely as the directives are for European Union and Brazil as of now. So Apple doesn’t really have to completely ditch the lightning port as a vast majority of the countries haven’t given any indication of changing charging cable rules. But it’s unlikely that Apple will have two different types of ports in the iPhone, varying from region to region.

Can Apple somehow avoid the Type-C charging port?

The EU’s rules apply for wired charging only. Unless Apple makes a ‘port-less’ iPhone, it is unlikely that the Type-C port won’t find its way in the iPhone. Europe is too lucrative a market for Apple to not accept the rule.

Is iPhone the only Apple product to be affected by the rule?

Apple has been using Type-C port in a lot of its products — iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad mini, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air among others. However, certain other products still use the lightning port. The AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse — all use the lightning port. So these too will have to be shifted to Type-C port by Apple.