News hardware iPhone: Soon the end of the Lightning connector in Europe?
Gradually, smartphone manufacturers are abandoning micro-usb in favor of USB-C. The only brand that still resists is Apple, which since 2012 has been selling its iPhones alongside a Lightning connector. But the hours of this format could be numbered.
According to Les Echos, the European Commission will present this Thursday a draft directive, aimed at ask member states to force manufacturers to use a universal charger for their smartphones, tablets, headsets and speakers. All manufacturers adopting USB-C, the project would target Apple again with a potential implementation from 2024. As indicated by BFM within its tech department, the European Union has been seeking for many years to encourage Apple to adopt a new connector for all of its devices. For the time being, Apple remains opposed to this idea, declaring at the start of 2020:
We believe that a regulation imposing a harmonization of smartphone chargers would slow down innovation instead of encouraging it, and would penalize European consumers.
According to the Cupertino company, the Lightning is still relevant to the extent where it connects together a whole range of ecosystem products Apple. However, the brand has already switched some of its devices to USB-C, like the MacBook, iPad Pro, iPad Air, and the recently announced iPad Mini.
