Charging the iPhone 15 via USB-C will be the biggest upgrade in years

The next iPhones, expected as usual in September, may have a feature that iPhones have never had: a universal charging port.

Newer iPhone models may have a USB Type-C charging port on the bottom of the phone, Apple says the analyst And Media reports. It’s the same charging port used in nearly every laptop sold in recent years, as well as everything from Android phones, iPads, and Kindles to headphones to drones to electric blankets.

The USB-C connector replaces Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector, which has been on the bottom of every iPhone model since 2012.

For consumers, this change will be the biggest iPhone improvement in years.

iPhone users don’t have to carry two different cables for their phones and other devices while traveling. Android users can borrow chargers from iPhone owners. You can borrow a charger from someone who has a new laptop. Schools and businesses can standardize one charger type across their fleet of devices. USB-C can even enable iPhones Achieve faster loading speeds.

While Apple has not confirmed whether its new iPhones will have a USB-C charging port, or did not respond to a request for comment, a change is bound to happen.

A new rule passed by the European Union last year states that new smartphones must have USB-C ports by 2024. It is unlikely that Apple will produce an iPhone model only for the European market. “Obviously we have to live up to it,” said Greg Joswak, Apple’s chief marketing officer. He said last year.

Consumer benefits such as B. less commitment to a single benefit, helped justify the new regulation. The European Union assumes that bases can save Europeans 250 million euros annually On chargers The EU also says that old chargers generate around 11,000 tonnes of e-waste in the region each year.

Apple has opposed the law. In a 2021 letter, Apple said the regulations would stifle innovation in future charging, potentially phase out devices and overwhelm consumers with additional information.

“We fear that a rule requiring only one connector type for all devices on the market will harm European consumers by slowing the adoption of useful innovations in charging standards related to safety and energy efficiency,” Apple said in the letter.

Whenever Apple changes the connectors on its devices, skeptics think it’s just an attempt to make more money from more expensive cables. Apple’s highest-performance USB-C cable It retails for $39.

For example, when Apple added USB-C chargers to its MacBook laptops starting in 2015, it was funny face Through the dongle required to connect the old accessories to the new laptop.

When Apple removed the iPhone’s headphone jack in 2016, it sparked months of backlash both for and against the “bold” change over whether Apple was pushing people toward pricier wireless AirPods, and it still inspires us today to question whether it was the right thing to do. The decision was (Most Android phones have followed suit.)

But while Apple makes money from its cables and has a program called “MFi” where accessory makers pay for access and official Apple parts, Apple’s strategic focus is on making sure its products work together without major defects so its users can buy new iPhones. continues It’s nickels and dongles, not dongles and accessories.

Apple’s wearables, home and accessories product lines alone are reported to have sales of $41 billion in 2022, although Apple’s watches and headphones make up the majority of sales. That’s less than the $205 billion in iPhone sales Apple reported for the year.

Apple’s argument that the new charger will cause confusion is even more valid. With the Lightning port, companies that wanted to make officially certified accessories had to apply to the Apple program and pay to access specifications and official Apple parts. For consumers, this meant that while there were some knockoff Lightning devices to avoid, only a store-bought dock, watch or cable would work in most stores.

USB-C is a different beast. that’s it”standard“This means the exact specifications have been published by a group of companies and individuals working together. Anyone can use these specifications to build cables, and you don’t have to enroll in an Apple-run program.

This means that many iPhone users will learn that not all USB-C cables are created equal. Some cables can transfer data faster, some can’t. When the standard was first introduced, some cables could damage hardware because they were misconfigured (although this has not been as common in recent years). Some cables even support “Thunderbolt”, a modern transmission standard. Data for powerful accessories like monitors or docks, but at a higher price. There is a site test And it depends Cables “compatible” with the USB-C standard

Apple will likely let users know when it’s okay to charge their phone only through software alerts it carries in its retail stores and through its MFi program.

But switching charging ports clearly increases the potential for frustrating situations that weren’t there when Apple stuck with its own chargers. Apple’s latest troubleshooting document for USB-C charging issues on Mac Users need to test Includes official Apple cable and power adapter.

The world won’t change overnight if Apple’s iPhones have USB-C ports. Apple is still developing some of its own charging standards, such as MagSafe, which uses magnets to attach a charging disc to the back of the iPhone. The Apple Watch also uses a unique magnetic charger. While Apple has used USB-C as the only charging port on its MacBook laptops for years, Apple recently introduced a proprietary magnetic charger for newer models.

recently, Apple watchers are hopingIt’s possible that the company will try to remove the connectors from the iPhone entirely, but until then, Apple fans with multiple products will still have to carry around multiple different charging cables.

However, the USB-C port is still a step in the right direction for iPhone users, even if Apple grumbles about it. Apple opted for an approach that would standardize charging it, but allow cables to be specific to one type of device.

“It allows you to have over a billion people — several people have that port on the left [pointing to the Lightning cable] “They need to be able to use what they have and not be disrupted,” Greg Jozwik, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said last year.