Apple confirms the iPhone is getting USB-C, but isn’t happy about the reason why

Apple will finally switch from Lightning to USB-C port on its iPhones. Apple confirms the iPhone is getting USB-C, but isn’t happy about the reason why

Apple confirms the iPhone is getting USB-C, but isn’t happy about the reason why

The company did not officially announce anything, but its senior vice president of worldwide marketing all but confirmed that a new set of regulations in the European Union, as well as in Brazil, which mandate the use of USB-C on smartphones.

Apple has long resisted the idea, but now that the EU will actually start enforcing the law starting in 2024, the company will have to make the change if it wants to keep selling iPhones in the EU.

For users, this will simply mean most of their gadgets, whether made by Apple or some other company, will charge with the same cable.

Joswiak went into a long explanation about how Apple has historically preferred to go its own way and trust its engineers rather than be forced into adopting hardware standards by lawmakers. He cited the examples of Micro USB and hearing aid compliance as situations where Apple has been pushed to meet ill-considered requirements.

Apple isn’t too happy about this. “We think the approach would’ve been better environmentally, and better for our customers, for the governments to not be that prescriptive,” said Joswiak.

What Joswiak wouldn’t say, however, is when the switch is going to happen, exactly. “The Europeans are dictating timing for European customers,” he said.

The iPhone 14 is a modest update to the iPhone 13, and that’s being generous. The cameras are better, including a much-improved selfie camera, and there’s support for a new satellite emergency messaging feature that could save your neck if you’re lost in the woods. But the phone that Apple introduced as “Far out” feels like it’s awfully close to home.