What are the Benefits of USB-C Replacing Apple’s Lightning Cable?
Apple is joining the rest of the tech industry in abandoning its proprietary iPhone charging plug and embracing a more universally accepted connection standard. This decision is largely influenced by the imminent implementation of a common charging regulation by the European Union, applicable to all 27 member countries.
Here’s a look at the USB-C connector and what it means to consumers:
WHAT IS USB-C AND HOW DO I DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHER TYPES?
The first part of the acronym stands for Universal Serial Bus, and it replaces previous versions of USB cables used in everything from printers and hard drives to computer mice and Kindle readers.
The USB-C plug has a different shape than its predecessor – an elongated oval. It’s also symmetrical and reversible, eliminating one of the common pitfalls of previous versions, such as rectangular USB-A connectors, because there’s no wrong way to plug it in.
WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT USB-C?
USB-C cables can carry more current, so laptops can be charged faster, and they allow for higher data transfer speeds, allowing a large number of files to be copied from a computer to an external hard drive. At the same time, they can pump a video signal to the screen and supply power to connected accessories.
The USB-C connector is also designed to be future-proof. Its form doesn’t change, but newer versions – and the devices they connect to – come with updated features. This means users need to be careful as older devices may not be able to support the latest specs.
It’s also slimmer than boxy USB-A connectors, making them better suited for new devices that keep getting smaller.
WHY DOES APPLE USE IT?
Apple has long defended its own Lightning connector for iPhones, even though no one else was using it. It opposed the EU’s joint charging effort, citing concerns that it would limit innovation and harm consumers.
Apple held out even as others began adding USB-C connectors to their devices. But when the EU proposal won key approval last year, the US tech giant gave in and never looked back.
The company executive who unveiled the latest iPhone on Tuesday didn’t even mention the Lightning cable when he introduced its replacement.
“USB-C has become a widely accepted standard, so we’re bringing USB-C to iPhone 15,” said Kaiann Drance, vice president of iPhone product marketing.
He said USB-C has been “built into Apple products for years” and can now be used in MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and AirPods.
WHAT ROLE WAS EUROPE?
Apple’s move is an example of how European Union regulations often end up rippling around the world — the so-called “Brussels effect” — when companies decide it’s easier to comply than make different products for different regions.
The EU spent more than a decade trying to persuade the technology industry to adopt a common charging standard. The effort to establish uniform cable rules is part of the bloc’s broader effort to make products sold in the EU more sustainable and reduce the amount of electronic waste.
The EU’s common payment rule will only enter into force in autumn 2024. It covers phones, tablets, e-readers, earphones, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, hand-held video game consoles, keyboards and mice, portable speakers and navigation devices.
It also standardizes fast charging technology and gives consumers the right to choose whether to buy new devices with or without a charger.
