The iPhone 15 Is Said to Beat EU’s Mandate, With Future Accessories Shifting to USB-C as Well
Apple is prepared to make changes to its devices to use the widely adopted USB-C port, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter. Since the EU covers a large number of regions, it would be in Apple’s best interest to make a switch or risk having its devices banned from ever being sold. Fortunately, the iPhone 15 is said to make the transition to USB-C before the EU’s mandated time limit. However, since the new law requires Apple devices to switch over to USB-C before the end of 2024, it means a future low-cost iPhone SE can still launch with the Lightning interface and would not be subjected to any sales ban in any country that is a part of the European Union. Apple currently sells three AirPods models; the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max. Gurman claims that the next iterations of these wireless audio products, along with the Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard, are expected to switch to USB-C by 2024. Ming-Chi Kuo, a TF International Securities analyst, believes that Apple will launch a USB-C charging case for some AirPods models in 2023 but did not mention the AirPods Pro 2, suggesting that the transition from Lightning may happen much sooner. Later this year, Apple is expected to launch the affordable iPad 10, and it may be the last tablet from the company to gravitate to USB-C, completing the transition, at least for this product category. I don’t think Apple will take that long to bring USB-C to all of its devices, though. I’d bet the next versions of the regular AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max all move to USB-C, and that transition should be done by 2024.” Over the next couple of years, we see Apple switching to this port completely, giving up any grip it has on its proprietary Lightning connector.
