Apple is Believed to Adopt USB-C Charging in 2024 to Comply With European Union Regulations

Aplle will apply a USB-C cable to all its products by 2024. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - Apple is gearing up to adopt USB-C charging across its line of AirPods and Mac accessories in the next few years. This shift away from Lightning cables comes as the European Union has mandated USB-C charging on all new smartphones, tablets and headphones released in the region by the end of 2024.

Although the law has not yet been signed into law, it received approval from the European Parliament last week.

To comply with the upcoming rule, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes Apple may bring USB-C to the next-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods by 2024. While Mac accessories, including the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad, may switch to USB-C as soon as next year.

Apple will be updating its Mac lineup with new iMacs and Mac Pros next year, and since the release of new Macs usually coincide with accessory updates. Gurman stated that this decision is a safe bet that the accessory will move to USB-C in the next year. Gurman also believes that Apple will swap its AirPods before EU law takes effect.

Earlier this year, a report from Gurman suggested that Apple had started testing USB-C charging on its iPhones, but the public doesn't expect this new accessory to appear on devices until as soon as 2023.

Gurman reiterated this belief in this latest Power On newsletter, again adding that he thinks Apple will add a USB-C charging port to the iPhone 15, as well as to the entry-level iPad which is expected to be released later this year.

As my colleague Jon Porter points out, Apple doesn't technically have to comply with EU legislation that will appear until the iPhone 17 is released in the fall of 2025, as there's a two-year grace period that allows Apple to have enough time to make the transition to USB-C. . Nonetheless, Gurman thinks Apple will "easily beat the due date with the best-selling product.

Even if Apple makes the transition to using USB-C, Gurman hopes its presence on Apple devices won't last long. Gurman believes that Apple will eventually bring inductive charging to iPhones and iPads at some point in the next few years to get around the law.