Apple Confirms It Will Add USB-C Ports to iPhones After New EU Law

Apple has confirmed it will be equipping future iPhones in the European Union with a USB-C port in order to comply with the EU’s new mandate that all phones sold in its countries must use a USB-C charger.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said the company will "have to comply" with the new mandate, but made it clear it would do so because it had "no choice" in the matter. He also argued charging bricks had largely solved this problem, adding that users throwing out their original Lightning cables will result in a great deal of waste as devices make the switch.

“Governments, you know, get to do what they're gonna do. Obviously we'll have to comply. We have no choice as we do around the world to comply to local laws,” Joswiak says. “But, you know, we think the approach would've been better environmentally and better for our customers to not have a government be that prescriptive.”

The EU’s new law aims to have electronic devices all using USB-C ports by 2024. The goal is to allow people using multiple devices to reliably charge phones, tablets, handheld gaming consoles like the Switch, and other chargeable tech with universal ports and cables, rather than having to use several across different brands. Apple phones have primarily used Lightning cables since their introduction in 2012.

:story: IGN