Apple could be set to ditch lightning chargers for first time in 11 years
Topics: Apple, Technology
Ben Thompson
Featured Image Credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images/Grace Carey/Getty Images
Topics: Apple, Technology
Apple could be unveiling its biggest change to the iPhone format in years when it launches the iPhone 15.
The new model is expected to be unveiled in just a few days time at the Wonderlust event live from Apple Park on 12 September, with experts beliveing the newest model will come with a pretty significant change.
Apple has already hinted that the phone will be coming in new colours by sharing the Apple logo in grey, blue and black, but that might not be all.
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It is widely rumoured that the iPhone 15 will be doing away with lightning charging all together.
This came after after European Union regulations forced Apple to change its lightning charger cable system.
The European Parliament announced that it would enforce the use of USB Type-C charging ports for 'all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU' in a bid to reduce 'hassle for consumers,' as well as 'curbing e-waste'.
This means Apple will be forced to make the leap from lightning cables to USB-C by the end of 2024 at the latest.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal back in October, senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi and senior vice president of worldwide marketing Greg Joswiak have confirmed that Apple will have to comply with the new regulations.
Joswiak said: "Governments get to do what they do and obviously we'll have to comply.
"We have no choice."
Although he revealed they would be following the rule, Joswiak made no attempts to hide the fact that he wasn’t a fan.
"We have no choice, like we do around the world, to comply with local laws, but we think the approach would have been better environmentally and better for our customers to not have a government [have] that perspective," he said.
He admitted that Apple has been going back and forth with the European Parliament for over 10 years about the cables.
It will be the first time iPhones charging systems have been changed in 11 years.
Apple has already changed its MacBooks and iPads to USB-C charging, but appeared to be hesitant to follow suit with its phones.
Apple introduced its Lightning charger at the launch of the iPhone 5 back in 2012.
The system replaced its 30-pin dock connector and offered iPhone users faster charging.
Whether or not this new change will be popular with users remains to be seen.