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Apple could be ditching lightning chargers for the first time in 11 years
Featured Image Credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images/ Getty stock

Apple could be ditching lightning chargers for the first time in 11 years

The company is expected to make a big change to its phones

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Apple could be set to unveil its biggest change to the iPhone in years when it launches its newest model later this month.

The iPhone 15 is expected to be unveiled in just a few days time at the Wonderlust event live from Apple Park on 12 September and experts believe it will come with a pretty significant change.

Apple has already teased new features for the new iPhone 15, and by sharing the Apple logo in grey, blue, and black, they've also possibly hinted at new color options for the phone too.

Not only that, but the iPhone 15 is widely rumoured to be ditching the Lightning charger and being replaced with USB-C charging.

Speculation about a change to the iPhone kicked off after European Union regulations forced Apple to change its Lightning charger cable system.

The European Parliament announced that it would enforce the use of USB Type-C charging ports for 'all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU' in a bid to reduce 'hassle for consumers,' as well as 'curbing e-waste'.

Apple's next big event, titled Wonderlust, will happen on September 12.
X/@gregjoz

This means Apple will be forced to make the leap from lightning cables to USB-C by the end of 2024 at the latest.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal back in October, senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi and senior vice president of worldwide marketing Greg Joswiak have confirmed that Apple will have to comply with the new regulations.

Joswiak said: "Governments get to do what they do and obviously we'll have to comply.

"We have no choice."

Although he revealed they would be following the rule, Joswiak made no attempts to hide the fact that he wasn’t a fan.

Apple is expected to make a big change to its iPhones.
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“We have no choice, like we do around the world, to comply with local laws, but we think the approach would have been better environmentally and better for our customers to not have a government [have] that perspective,” he said.

He admitted that Apple has been going back and forth with the European Parliament for over 10 years about the cables.

It will be the first time iPhones charging systems have been changed in 11 years.

Apple has already changed its MacBooks and iPads to USB-C charging, but appeared to be hesitant to follow suit with its phones.

Apple introduced its Lightning charger at the launch of the iPhone 5 back in 2012.

The system replaced its 30-pin dock connector and offered iPhone users faster charging.

Topics: Apple, iPhone, Technology

Claire is a journalist at UNILAD who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats.