Patcay.com – As predicted, the iPhone 15 has finally adopted the USB-C port to comply with European Union regulations. The Lightning charger, which has been a staple of iPhones for years, had to be left behind. This change not only impacts users but also results in losses for Apple.
Apple has always appeared reluctant to adopt USB-C for the iPhone, even though other devices like iPads and Mac laptops have been using it for a long time. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, even stated last year that the use of Lightning by Apple users had become common.
However, they felt compelled to comply with European Union regulations.
“We have no choice but to do this, as we do all around the world, to comply with local regulations. Nevertheless, we believe this approach will be better for the environment and consumers if governments don’t have a different perspective,” he said.
Apple had previously expressed concerns about the waste of old Lightning cables that could have a negative impact on the environment. The Lightning cable was first introduced in 2012 along with the iPhone 5.
It must be acknowledged that Apple has derived significant profits from the business related to Lightning cables.
“For Apple, it’s about control of its own ecosystem. They also earn significant revenue from the sale of Lightning cables and various related accessories,” said David McQueen, director at ABI Research.
Apple also gets a share of third-party accessory and cable sales through the Made for iPhone program.
“The shift to USB Type C will remove that level of control as USB-C is a more open ecosystem,” David explained.
Therefore, the transition of the iPhone 15 to USB-C not only impacts Apple’s financial losses and control but, of course, Apple remains clever in finding business opportunities by selling USB-C to Lightning adapters for $29, allowing users to continue using Lightning accessories with their iPhones.