There are transitions where Apple shows a certain courage. The alleged lack of a jack port on the iPhone sparked months of controversy before the release of the iPhone 7. So it’s safe to assume that a petition had collected more than 240,000 signatures to urge Apple to reverse this decision.
iPhone 7: Put an end to the jack for good
Decision that will prove to be a brilliant decision from a business perspective with the marketing of the AirPods a few months later. The iPhone 15 will usher in a new transition, moving from Lightning to USB-C. A person emerging from a multi-year coma might think that this decision follows a certain logic. Apple was a pioneer in democratizing USB-C and played an important role in its design. The Mac and most iPads have adopted it. In short, that the iPhone is here is the point of the story and the rumors. Some of them have promised this transition for 2019…
Yes, but this transition, as everyone knows, will be dictated by the European Union, which, according to Mark Gurman, Apple will be careful not to say in its keynote on September 12th. Instead, she should praise this “courageous decision.” With the same cable, users can charge both their Mac and their iPad or iPhone. The switch to USB-C will enable much faster transfer rates on higher-end models. Gurman also suggests that this functionality be reserved for Pro series models. Keep in mind that this is already the case with the iPad 10.
Another, rarely mentioned advantage: The iPhone should finally have a video output that deserves the name. Apple terminals could also load faster. Finally, it will make the lives of consumers juggling Android smartphones a lot easier.
On paper, this transition should theoretically be received positively by consumers. However, we at Apple fear a backlash, particularly from first-time buyers who would discover overnight that their numerous adapters and cables no longer work with their brand new devices. For some, the transition to the iPhone 15 might actually be particularly steep in terms of price.
It was precisely these adapters and cables, which are no longer used for anything, that made Apple’s financial director happy. The MFi certification (Made For iPhone) has been making Apple rich for years. Rumor has it that MFI chips are required to take full advantage of USB-C on the iPhone 15. Apple will undoubtedly try to limit the damage in one way or another, but technically Apple’s room for maneuver is limited. The European Commission has already indicated that it is following the matter very closely.
USB-C with MFi chips limited for future iPhone 15s?
At Apple we were prepared for all the arguments to avoid this transition, even the most surprising ones, namely those of ecology. This forced transition, Apple explained in a press release in 2020, is causing an “unprecedented” amount of e-waste while significantly disrupting users.
Apple is actively involved in the European debate on universal chargers
Apple’s other arguments were more permissible, such as the fact that lawmakers make technological decisions that could harm innovation. Two years later, Greg Joswiak, the head of marketing, politely made it clear that he preferred governments to dictate rather than legislate.
But in the end, a former Apple employee is still the one who best settles the debate. Tony Fadell, the “father” of the iPod, who also contributed significantly to the development of the iPhone, loudly declared on social networks: “Our planet is more important than a damn plug.” And to add, when this law saw the light of day , then “just because Apple didn’t do the right thing, period.”