• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
iPhones and AirPods 'to switch to USB-C in 2023'

Home> Technology

Updated 14:30 10 Aug 2022 GMT+1Published 14:23 10 Aug 2022 GMT+1

iPhones and AirPods 'to switch to USB-C in 2023'

A tech expert has predicted that Apple will change the way you'll charge your phones from next year onwards.

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

A tech expert has predicted that iPhones and AirPods could soon end up with new charging points as the drive to adopt USB-C grows.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reckons that all AirPod models released in 2023 will be launched with USB-C charging cases rather than the lightning cable they currently use.

He also suggested that the iPhone 15, due to be released in 2023, will come with a USB-C charging point and mark the moment Apple devices move away from lightning cables.

Advert

The more devices switch to coming with a USB-C port, the more Apple products will have to keep up with the changes to make sure all the different bits of kit are operating on the same level.

Bloomberg also reported back in May that Apple was testing iPhones with USB-C rather than lightning ports.

However, there are some phones and devices due to be released later on this year which look set to keep the lightning port that's become associated with Apple's range of products.


The redesign is going to be mandatory for Apple devices sold in the European Union anyway, as a court ruling states that all companies have to introduce common USB-C charging ports on their smaller devices by Autumn 2024.

Advert

The iPhone's current charging port, which on many of their devices doubles up as a headphone jack, is made to fit Apple's lightning cables, which are smaller than USB-C leads and therefore won't fit the new requirements.

From late 2024 onwards all smartphones sold in the EU have to have a USB-C slot, so unless Apple wants to stop selling phones to Europe it'll have to make models which have the proper charging slot.

On top of that, unless they want to make an EU-specific model which you charge via a USB-C cable, then the adaptations will need to be rolled out across their new products, and that includes AirPods too.

USB-C cables are thicker than the lightning ones current Apple devices use to charge.
Thibault Renard / Alamy Stock Photo

Advert

Apple had tried to push against legislation which would make phones be required to provide a USB-C charging point, arguing that such a move would be restrictive and stifle innovation.

As for current Apple releases, the tech company is set to release the iPhone 14 later on this year and that could be the last iPhone sent out which still gets charged using a lightning cable.

It seems as though the future is heading towards USB-C cables as universal chargers and the next couple of years could render Apple's famous lightning cables a thing of the past.

UNILAD have contacted Apple for comment.

Advert

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]  

Featured Image Credit: James Wagner / Alamy Stock Photo / Andrew Berezovsky / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Apple, Technology

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

X

@MrJoeHarker

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Urgent warning to billions of Gmail users over dangerous 'no-reply' attack

    Recently received an email from '[email protected]'?

    Technology
  • 3 hours ago

    NASA issues warning for major solar storm that has already caused radio blackouts on Earth

    Space experts have weighed in on how likely the catastrophic event may be - and how we will be affected

    Technology
  • 4 hours ago

    Bacteria with ‘unique abilities’ has mutated on space station into something never seen before on Earth

    Swabs containing Niallia tiangongensis were frozen onboard the Chinese space station before being delovered to Earth

    Technology
  • 6 hours ago

    Duolingo CEO sparks controversy by suggesting AI is a better teacher than humans as he predicts future of schooling

    Luis von Ahn has been speaking about the future of artificial intelligence

    Technology
  • Apple reveals ‘funny' detail in new AirPods and it has people saying the same thing
  • People are calling for Apple to make major change to iPhones after ‘terrible’ latest update
  • Warning to iPhone users as revolutionary new iOS 18 won't work on several popular iPhones
  • The iPhone 15 will be able to charge other iPhones thanks to the new USB-C port