iPhone Without USB Type-C Port May Become Reality as EU Reportedly Gives Green Light to Apple

Earlier this week, we realized that Apple had initially deliberate to make the upcoming iPhone 17 Air its first portless telephone with wi-fi charging help and cloud information syncing. The model, nonetheless, reportedly backed off the concept contemplating potential considerations from European Union regulators. The EU had pushed the iPhone maker to vary the charging ports of its smartphones from the lightning connector to USB Type-C. Now, a brand new report means that dropping the USB Type-C port for a totally portless telephone can be authorized.

As per a report by 9to5Mac, dropping the USB Type-C port for a totally portless telephone can be compliant with the EU legislation. The publication quoting Federica Miccoli, European Commission press officer, states that portless telephones are permitted.

EU, in its Common Charger Directive, talked about this as an answer to this question — Can radio gear that may solely be recharged through wi-fi charging be made accessible available on the market with out incorporating the harmonised charging answer?

“Yes, since, such radio gear can’t be recharged through wired charging, it doesn’t want to include the harmonised (wired) charging answer”

The legislation reportedly lets the EU take motion in favour of wi-fi charging requirements, versus proprietary ones.

“Regarding wi-fi charging, the Commission will promote the harmonisation of wi-fi charging with a purpose to keep away from future fragmentation of the inner market and any detrimental results on client and the atmosphere. The Commission will monitor the evolution of all sorts of wi-fi charging applied sciences (not solely inductive), significantly market developments, market penetration, market fragmentation, technological efficiency, interoperability, power effectivity and charging efficiency”.

As acknowledged in recital 13 of the Common Charger Directive, “the Commission ought to take motion in the direction of selling and harmonising such options to keep away from future fragmentation of the inner market”.

Mark Gurman had claimed just lately that Apple initially deliberate to make the iPhone 17 Air “Apple’s first utterly port-free iPhone”. Apple reportedly determined to not go this path to keep away from potential penalties from EU regulators.

EU’s USB Type-C Mandate

EU lately mandated that every one cellphones and different digital devices bought within the EU have to be outfitted with a USB Type-C charging port by the top of 2024. The regulation had important implications for companies together with Apple who had used its proprietary Lightning port for over a decade. Apple switched to USB Type-C ports with the iPhone 15 sequence in 2023.