Apple has confirmed that it will be forced to ditch its lightning charging port on its latest iPhone model after the EU rules forced it to switch to a universally accepted alternative.
The iPhone 15 was announced at the company’s annual event earlier this week. It included details about the new phone, including the fact it would use a USB-C cable. This is the first time since 2012 that an iPhone handset has used a charging port that isn’t the lightning version.
The new model goes on sale next week and it will also use more recycled materials in its batteries, as well as in other parts of the new iPhone and the latest Apple Watch.
Another change is that there won’t be any leather in its new accessories, as part of the company’s pledge to become a carbon-neutral business by 2030.
According to Apple boss Tim Cook, the new iPhone 15 range includes some of the “best and most capable iPhones we’ve ever made”. Some of the changes include:
- Brighter screens
- Improved camera systems
- High-end iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max now come with a titanium frame
- Customizable “active button” on the Pro and Max in place of the mute switch
- Gesture control on the Apple Watch
The company also said that the USB-C cable will work on the new versions of its AirPods Pro earphones and wired EarPods headphones. It already works on many Apple laptops and iPads, but it’s hoped that extending this to phones will reduce waste and improve people’s experience.
The European Union had told the tech giant to replace the charging ports to make things easier for consumers by stopping the need to buy different chargers. It would also encourage people to reuse their chargers, which can help to reduce electronic waste.
However, some experts have warned that there could be more discarded cables in the coming years. Additionally, some have questioned whether consumers are willing to spend money on new devices as they are not hugely different to previous versions.
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