Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

Apple testing USB-C iPhones & new dongles ahead of EU mandate

A new report claims that Apple is currently testing both USB-C adapters, and a USB-C iPhone, though neither is expected before 2023.

The anticipated 2023 date backs up recent claims from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that it will be that year's "iPhone 15" that will switch from Lightning to USB-C.

Kuo claimed to have information from the supply chain. Bloomberg now cites only unspecified people with knowledge of the situation. It's possible, then, that these are the same sources, but Bloomberg's have added the possibility of adapters.

Such USB-C adapters would presumably work with existing Lightning-based iPhones, which could mean that Apple is aiming to get ahead of expected European Union requirements. The EU is currently planning legislation that would mean all smartphones sold in Europe would have to use USB-C chargers.

With new iPhones using the standard, and older ones able to get an adapter, all of Apple's portable devices would be able to use USB-C.

Adapters are how Apple worked around the micro-USB mandate. That micro-USB charger mandate will be replaced by the USB-C one, after only eight years.

The convenience of having fewer cables to carry is one benefit of USB-C, and an engineer has previously adapted both his iPhone and AirPods charging case to the standard for exactly that reason. He then subsequently sold his USB-C iPhone for $86,000.



33 Comments

wood1208 10 Years · 2938 comments

Anyone can start such Rumor. Heard it before, many times.

mazda 3s 16 Years · 1598 comments

My MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and even my Apple Watch Series 7 power cord use USB-C. It's about damn time that the iPhone got onboard.

Kuyangkoh 7 Years · 838 comments

Yeah really what’s the hold up Timmy Christmas ?? Some
of your devices have usb-c already 

macminion 9 Years · 29 comments

Why? Why? Eliminate the hole. Magsafe it all the way! Forget what the EU governments want.

lkrupp 19 Years · 10521 comments

JP234 said:
macminion said:
Why? Why? Eliminate the hole. Magsafe it all the way! Forget what the EU governments want.
Uh, because Apple wants to sell iPhones to Europeans, maybe??? Ah, who needs a few hundred billion Euros in sales, anyway, right?

And when the EU mandates Android as the official mobile os for Europe I guess you’ll be okay with that too. Thank that can’t happen?