Apple’s announcement about the iPhone 15 lineup comes with a major change: they’re switching from their Lightning port to a USB-C charging port. This aligns the iPhone with the standard used by most other modern devices like smartphones, laptops, cameras, and headphones.
While it might be a bit inconvenient for people who have lots of Lightning cables, there are benefits to this shift. Apple is making this change partly because the European Union has required mobile devices to use USB-C by late 2024. The good news is, you won’t need separate cables for your Apple devices anymore. You can use the same USB-C cable to charge your iPhone 15, Nintendo Switch, Bose headphones, and Windows laptop.
USB-C has advantages beyond convenience. When you get an iPhone 15, it’ll be easier to find a charging cable, and you’ll need fewer cables overall. Many folks already have USB-C cables for their laptops or other gadgets, so they can use one cable for multiple devices. Even if you need to buy new cables, USB-C ones are usually affordable.
It’s not clear if USB-C on the iPhone is a permanent move for Apple or if they might eventually go all wireless and get rid of the port. The EU’s rule mainly applies to devices that charge with a wired cable, and Apple has a history of removing popular ports, like when they got rid of the headphone jack in the iPhone 7.
The EU’s rule is all about creating a single standard charging port, which means you won’t have to buy different cables for different devices. It also helps reduce the production and shipping of multiple cable types. While most people won’t see big changes in their daily routines because of this, it will influence how companies design products in the future.
