‘Apple plans to adapt iPhone plug to USB-C’ | Financial

–

The American tech group is also said to be working on an adapter that will allow future accessories designed for the current Lightning plug to be charged. There has been a lot of talk about the Lightning plug, because only Apple uses this plug output.

Apple is said to be working on the change because the European Union decided in April that manufacturers of mobile phones and other devices can only use the USB-C output. Apple does claim that the European decision will stand in the way of innovation.

Nowadays, most Apple products, such as the iPads and iMacs, already have a USB-C connector instead of the Lightning version. That also means that Apple users need multiple chargers. That while Apple puts ease of use first.

The major plug change is not expected to take place until 2023. Apple would still plan to use the current plugs for the new iPhone models that come out this year. Apple declined to comment on the message.

Experts say the change could cause confusion for Apple customers. For example, a USB version of the iPhone especially for Europe can be inconvenient and cause headaches in the supply chain. It is also not yet clear whether the new charger will be standard with products or whether customers will have to pay extra for it.

Although the USB chargers are a bit larger than the Lightning variant, they can charge and transfer data faster. The new Apple chargers will soon be able to be used for countless other devices, such as Android phones and tablets. But the majority of Apple accessories, such as earbuds, AirPods and the Apple remote, now require a Lightning charger.

The change could also affect the partnership between Apple and the makers of accessories for the iPhone manufacturer. These makers still have to meet strict requirements to be able to use the Lightning port and also have to pay for it. Apple is expected to exert much less influence on the USB-C output, which many more electronics manufacturers use.

—