EU sends Apple stark warning over USB-C charging on new iPhones
Bad news for Apple, good news for you
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We’re all but certain thatApplewill be equipping theiPhone 15and its siblings with USB-C charging ports come September, and a new European Union (EU) directive suggests the company will be forced to level the playing field when it comes to charging speeds.
The tech giant is reportedlyplanning to implement MFi (‘Made for iPhone’) certification on its range of USB-C accessories, which had led many – including us – to speculate that theseApple-produced chargers would enable faster charging speeds on the iPhone 15 than third-party chargersfrom other manufacturers.
The EU, however, has warned Apple against imposing such limitations. According to Germany newspaperDie Zeit, EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton has told the company that it will prevent iPhones from being sold in member countries (such as France, Germany and Spain) if it attempts to skirt around theEU’s new USB-C charging policy.
“Devices that do not meet the requirements for the uniform charger are not approved on the EU market,” Breton reportedly wrote in a letter to Apple, having already reminded the company of the new rules in March.
Owing to the significant amounts of electronic waste caused by unused chargers and the inconvenience suffered by Android and iPhone users who need different cables for different devices, European policymakers have been keen to implement a single mobile charging standard for more than a decade.
The EU finalized its common charger regulation in October 2022, with companies – including Apple – expected to include universal USB-C charging ports on all new technology products sold in EU countries from the end of 2024.
As such, there’s no legal obligation for Apple to follow the rules before that date, meaning the iPhone 15 line – and possibly even the iPhone 16 line – may still arrive with charging ports optimized for Apple-produced accessories.
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That sounds like good news, but since Apple no longer includes chargers in the box with iPhone purchases, you’d almost certainly have to fork out extra cash for one of the company’s proprietary charging accessories if you want to get the most from your iPhone 15.
To be clear: if Apple does decide to go its own way until 2024, you’ll still be able to use third-party USB-C chargers to power your iPhone 15, but these accessories won’t work their magic quite as quickly as comparable first-party chargers bought directly from Apple.
That said, it wouldn’t be a great look for Apple to knowingly circumvent legislation that it knows is coming into effect in the near future, so we’re expecting the company to swallow its pride – or rather, tone down its desire for profit – with the iPhone 15 line.
We’ll be keeping abreast of all the latest iPhone 15 news, rumors and leaks as and when they surface, so stay tuned to TechRadar for the most up-to-date info on what’s likely to be 2023’s hottest smartphone launch.
Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
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