The days of the Apple Lightning port may be numbered. Earlier this week, European lawmakers discussed the possibility that all mobile devices may have a single charger, which could lead to all future smartphones being powered by a USB-C port, including the iPhone.
A newsletter on the official website of the European Parliament states that members of the European Parliament will insist on "a common charger suitable for all mobile phones, tablets, e-readers and other mobile devices."
Part of the European Union’s desire for a common charger for all mobile devices appears to be rooted in the issue of sustainability, as the newsletter indicates that older chargers produce “more than 51,000 tons of e-waste annually”. And if all mobile phones adopt a USB-C port, fewer chargers will likely be thrown into the trash, according to TomsGade, a technical affairs website.
The USB-C port has already become the standard for most Android phones, including Google Pixel 4, Samsung Galaxy S10 and OnePlus 7T, and many others, but Apple sticks to its "Lightning" port, which first appeared in 2012 on all phones IPhone and many iPads.
The iPhone move to USB-C will be a big shift for Apple devices, but it's not entirely surprising, as rumors of Apple's intention to use this port on the iPhone have been circulating for years, and a famous analyst specializing in Apple news, Ming-Chi Kuo, recently expected Apple to give up From Lightning outlet by 2021.
The latest iPad Pro models also use USB-C ports, allowing these high-performance tablets to connect to external displays, audio interfaces, and other peripherals.
Apple criticized the USB-C standard in a note to the European Commission in 2019, saying that "regulations that achieve compatibility on the type of connector built into all smartphones freeze innovation rather than encourage it." The company pointed out that this step "will lead to an unprecedented volume of electronic waste and user dissatisfaction to a large extent."
It is too early to say whether the proposed unified charger system from the European Union will become law, but it will lead to one of the biggest changes in iPhones in years, and some may be happy to switch to the USB-C standard, while others may be sad as a result of the pile Lightning cables that they will have to destroy.