The European Commission shook the iPhone world to its roots this week, announcing a new policy that would require all smartphones to adopt USB-C ports for physical charging in an effort to reduce e-waste.
Switching to USB-C, Apple says, would actually be more wasteful than sticking with Lightning, since customers would need new cables and adapters — despite the fact that Apple already offers USB-C ports on its iPads and its MacBooks and has managed to switch over those popular products without major issues or customer revolts.
And Apple takes a cut of every one of those devices, too. Want to connect an external display? Import photos and videos from an SD card or flash drive? An Apple-approved adapter. With a USB-C iPad, you can simply plug in flash drives and keyboards and displays and any number of useful additions that make those devices better. Apple even made a point of that fact during its latest keynote when announcing the new iPad Mini.
The European Commission's rule could theoretically do the same for iPhones by forcing into existence the USB-C iPhone that Apple has adamantly refused to make thus far. But the new change may mean that Apple could shift towards or accelerate its plans for a completely portless iPhone instead. Rather than give into USB-C ports, the company could eschew ports entirely in order to shift customers towards using its proprietary charging methods.
The iPhone is possibly the most popular device in the world that uses a proprietary charger, and a switch to USB-C would simplify charging setups for the millions of iPhone owners around the world. Lightning is an established ecosystem that millions of customers already have cables for, with fast data transfer and charging speeds.
Some members of the European Parliament want all phone-makers to adopt a universal port, to reduce waste. But Apple says the move would create more waste by making Lightning-compatible accessories obsolete.
European politicians have been campaigning for a single charging port for the past decade. The European Commission estimates that obsolete cables generate more than 51, tonnes of waste per year.
Back in , there were more than 30 different chargers on the market as phone-makers came up with their own connectors. So, several tech giants including Apple, Nokia and Samsung signed a voluntary pledge to provide chargers compatible with the micro-USB standard.
Over the years, most phone manufacturers put micro-USB ports on their devices. However, Apple introduced its Lightning port in , taking advantage of a loophole that let it design its own port, as long as it offered a micro-USB adaptor for sale.
If you see this alert every time you connect a certain cable or accessory, that cable or accessory might be damaged. Contact the manufacturer. If you see this alert every time you connect an Apple Lightning cable or accessory, contact Apple Support. If your iPhone or Lightning accessory is wet Unplug all cables or accessories.
Don't plug them in again until they're completely dry. To dry your iPhone: Tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the Lightning connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow. After at least 30 minutes, try charging with a Lightning cable or connecting a Lightning accessory. If you see the alert again, there is still liquid in the Lightning port or under the pins of your Lightning cable. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow for up to a day.
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