Earlier this year, the European Union announced legislation requiring smartphone and tablet makers to use a universal charging port to help reduce electronic waste. This isn't an issue for most Android device makers, as the vast majority have been using USB-C for years. When it comes to the iPhone though, Apple has remained adamant that it needs to continue using its own proprietary lightning port. Now, with the EU's new rules coming into place, we will finally be getting a USB-C iPhone. 

While Apple introduced USB-C for the iPad Pro line-up years ago, it continued to use the slightly smaller lightning port for its iPhone devices. Now, following the EU's mandate, Apple will be replacing Lightning with USB-C, as confirmed by Apple marketing head, Greg Joswiak.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Joswiak confirmed that the company will “have to comply” with the law and introduce a USB-C iPhone, but the company doesn't seem to be pleased about this change. The new rules will come into effect in Autumn 2024, so that is when Apple will finally make the jump unless it chooses to bring USB-C in earlier for the 2023 iPhone, which doesn't seem likely.

Joswiak did not confirm if it would introduce the USB-C version of the iPhone globally, or just in the EU, where this law applies. Interestingly, as The Verge points out, a portless iPhone, an idea Apple has been toying with for a while, could skirt around these rules, but it would mean users would have to solely rely on wireless charging. While wireless charging has become more common in recent years, fast charging over a cable is still the preferred method for most.

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KitGuru Says: Do you think Apple will switch to USB-C right away, or will the company drag this out until the 2024 deadline? Will non-USB-C iPhones still be sold outside of the EU? 

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