Samantha Kelly/CNN
The new iPhone 15 models will use a USB-C charging cord, ending an 11-year run with Apple’s proprietary Lightning charging cable.
CNN
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Apple is discontinuing the Lightning charger on Tuesday, exactly 11 years after it was first announced.
This initiative marks a breakthrough moment for the company as it finally embraces USB-C, a universal charging system. This is worth noting. Not only because Apple has resisted this for years, but also because it would make charging much easier for customers.
But like most things, there are pitfalls. Switching to a global standard means Apple relinquishes control of the wired charging ecosystem, and identifying good and bad chargers will no longer be obvious to many consumers.
At the iPhone 15 event, the company said, announced All of the company’s next-generation smartphones are launching with USB-C charging, and the latest version of AirPods Pro is no different. Apple has previously switched to USB-C charging for iPads and MacBooks, but until now it has resisted making the change on iPhones.
The switch comes less than a year after the European Union voted to approve legislation that would require smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, portable speakers and other small devices to support USB-C charging by 2024. You will be killed. Reduces the number of chargers and cables that consumers have to juggle when purchasing a new device, allowing users to mix and match devices and chargers, even if they are made by different manufacturers This is to make it so.
Apple customers can now use the same USB-C charger to power their iPhone, iPad, and Mac computer, eliminating the hassle of finding the right charger for each device. Charging can be done between devices, such as connecting a low-battery iPhone to a fully charged iPad, or even between different brands.
“This is probably the biggest disruption to iPhone design in years, but it’s not really a dramatic move,” said CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood.
Last year, Greg Jozwiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said: I got it. He cited the value and ubiquity of Lightning chargers designed to speed up device charging, but said EU obligations “clearly must be followed”.
“We don’t have the option of complying with local laws, as we do around the world, but we believe that approach was better for the environment and for our customers without a government. ” [have] That perspective,” Jozwiak said at the time.
The EU’s decision is part of a larger effort to tackle e-waste overall, but more e-waste could be generated in the short term as people phase out their Lightning cables. Apple has expressed environmental concerns about what will happen to older Lightning chargers, but there are also economic reasons for holding off on the change.
Apple introduced the Lightning charger with the iPhone 5 in 2012, replacing the existing 30-pin dock connector with one that allowed for faster charging and had a reversible design. It also sparked a related accessories business, requiring users to purchase $30 Lightning adapters to connect their devices to older docks, alarm clocks, and speaker systems.
“For Apple, it was all about controlling their ecosystem,” said David McQueen, director of ABI Research. “Apple makes a lot of money selling the Lightning cable and its many related accessories.”
We also receive monetary savings from third-party accessories and cables that utilize the Made For iPhone program. “USB-C is a more open ecosystem, so when you move to USB Type C, you lose this level of control,” McQueen said.
Apple is currently selling a new $29 USB-C to Lightning adapter that lets you connect your existing Lightning accessories to your USB-C-enabled iPhone or iPad to charge or share data. Similarly, in his 2012, Apple introduced a $29 dongle to connect the iPhone 5, the first phone with a Lightning charger, to older docks, wake-up radios, and speaker systems.
Thomas Hasson, vice president at Forrester Research, said the move to USB-C won’t motivate people to upgrade, but some consumers who were put off by the iPhone because of charging limitations. It is said that there is a possibility of shaking the
Considering that many mobile devices already use USB-C, including Apple’s iPad and MacBook, accessing a charging line shouldn’t be too difficult or expensive.
However, there are many counterfeit products out there, and some USB-C chargers are much safer than others. Some have too much power, others not enough. Some allow you to control the flow of power and data to your phone, while others do not. Inside CNN Underscore Key recommendations for USB-C chargers Products from big brands like Anker, Belkin, Apple, Amazon, and Google.
“Given how widely used USB-C is in other devices, it is unlikely that customers will be completely fooled by this switch, and a universal charging system has very clear advantages that will help in the long run. could benefit. There are upsides,” Wood said.
Apple also said that the dedicated USB-C controller enables up to 20 times faster transfer speeds than USB-2 technology on the iPhone 15 Pro.
In the short term, eliminating the Lightning cable Rapid increase in electronic waste Like iPhone users tossing their useless Lightning cables in a drawer. However, Apple told CNN that it has a “robust” recycling program where you can bring in your used chargers and cables. You can also look for eco-friendly options at your local e-waste recycling center or Best Buy store.