Apple Inc. 225,12 +0,89 +0,40% iPhone 15 slated for a Fall 2023 release will have USB-C charging port. Even before the recent EU ruling it seems Apple could read the writing on the wall. They knew at some point they were going to have pull the ripcord and switch to USB-C instead of their current Thunderbolt charging ports. Given the EU’s requirement for USB-C charging ports for devices using 100 watts or less was not going into effect until the end of 2024 Apple would have needed to make the switch by the iPhone 16 (Fall 2024).
In May, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple had begun testing USB-C iPhones ahead of the EU adopting the proposed legislation. At the time, he warned that if the company were to proceed with the change, “it wouldn’t occur until 2023 at the earliest.” He now says the iPhone 15 line “is essentially a lock” to receive USB-C next fall.
By switching to USB-C charging ports with the iPhone 15 this allows Apple to focus on getting the rest of their 100 watt or less product line compliant by the EU’s 2024 deadline. This would include the AirPods and peripherals such as the Magic Mouse with USB-C charging ports.
Apple will more widely adopt USB-C across its product portfolio over the next few years, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says he expects the company to transition all of its wireless earbuds, including the recently refreshed AirPods Pro, to the charging standard by 2024. Additionally, Apple could refresh accessories like the Magic Mouse with USB-C – and a more intuitive design, one would hope – as early as next year.
Technically Apple only needs to meet the USB-C charging port requirements for products they sell in the EU. I seriously doubt Apple would only make the iPhone 15 with the USB-C charging ports only available in the EU. That would seem counterproductive (especially if similar legislation is adopted in the US say by the State of California) and if anything more costly, unless they have a stockpile of Thunderbolt ports they need to use up. We will have to wait until next Spring/Summer when the iPhone 15 rumors and leaks start coming out to know for certain.
via engadget
