Adam Kos All indications are that Apple will switch to USB-C with the iPhone 15. After all, he doesn't have much left if he wants to continue selling them on the old continent even after the EU regulation on uniform chargers comes into force. Everything revolves mostly around nothing, but other accessories, especially AirPods, are often forgotten.
This forced change will be due to new European Union regulation, and Apple is clearly aware of this. His new iPads already include USB-C, and the only one that still has Lightning is last year's 9th generation iPad. The fact that Apple USB-C will really be widely adopted is also evidenced by the Siri Remote for Apple TV, when this remote control is the company's first accessory to be charged exclusively through its USB-C connector. Yes, there are still keyboards, trackpads, and mice that charge via Lightning, which will also need to switch to USB-C. But these are still primarily common peripherals. Then there are the AirPods, which are greatly affected by the regulation.
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Update cases
Apple unnecessarily dragged out the "killing" of Lightning. He first used USB-C in the 12" MacBook back in 2015, and it came to iPads in 2018. He has already abandoned the classic USB-A cables, when USB-C is on the other side of Lightning. But AirPods charging cases are also equipped with Lightning, so when the regulation comes into force, Apple will not be able to sell them in the EU. So it will mean only one thing - a necessary update.
AirPods Pro 2nd generation
But he won't have to do much for it. Practically, it will be enough for him to change the case, which will contain USB-C instead of Lightning. After all, in the past he only updated the case, which received the possibility of wireless charging. Even if the new ones also support MagSafe, cable charging will probably remain, because that is the main idea of the EU - to charge any device using USB-C. How it will be with the Apple Watch and, for example, Samsung's Galaxy Watch, is still a question, because they are charged exclusively wirelessly.
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Vratislav Holub However, if Apple replaces Lightning with USB-C in AirPods charging cases, the AirPods Max will have to make more of an impact, since they have a connector right in one earcup. Maybe we will finally see their new generation, or just a necessary update, or maybe they will completely clear the market. However, if Apple has indicated with the Siri Remote that it will accept USB-C, the move is a bit illogical that the 2nd generation AirPods Pro still have Lightning, while they were introduced only a month earlier.
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So Apple gave them only two years to live in Europe, because from the fall of 2024 smaller electronics with a single connector for charging must start being sold here. Apple's headphone update cycle is three years, so within two years Apple will have to hurry up with some kind of change, otherwise we'll be out of luck. Although there is one more possible option.
Salvation reduction
We see this in the case of the 1st generation Apple Pencil and the 10th generation iPad, which already has USB-C, and the Apple stylus is thus unable to charge in any way. But Apple has a solution - reduction. So, if you want to buy the 1st generation Apple Pencil, you are offered a discount for it. And the planet is crying. So the whole policy of saving our mother earth may be in trouble if Apple bypasses the regulation and starts packing adapters from USB-C to Lightning with all accessories, even if only for a temporary period.
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The salutary idea of less creation of electronic waste will be accepted, the EU will be a good guy for thinking well, and Apple will be able to artificially increase the prices of products, because they will add another unnecessary extra to them. After all, this is exactly what happened with the 3,5mm jack adapter when Apple removed it from the iPhone 7 and started packing the adapter with the phones. Everything good is just bad for something.
