Apple may be forced to use USB-C on iPhone by 2024

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Expect to finally see USB-C Phones — here's why

iPhone 14 Pro in white back and front
(Image credit: The Hacker 34)

Update (June 17): The U.S. may follow the EU's example if a new Senate request for an American common charger gains support.

Apple may finally be forced to make an iPhone with USB-C connectivity come 2024, as the European Parliament has reached an agreement that USB-C will become the common charging port across Europe by the fall of that year. 

As such, if Apple wants to continue to sell the likes of iPhones and iPads in Europe, of which there's a population of some 447 million people in the EU, it will need to fully adopt USB-C. That’s not a huge deal, as most of its products, other than the current iPhones, AirPods and the entry-level iPad, can be charged with USB-C. 

But this all means that the iPhone will finally need to lose the Lightning connector that’s been a staple of Apple’s phones for years. We say this, as Apple is almost certainly not going to make a separate version of future iPhones for just Europe. And we doubt Cupertino will want to abandon that lucrative market either. 

Given that most of Apple's other products have adopted USB-C, it makes sense for Apple to do the same for iPhones. The iPhone 14 was tipped to go the USB-C route, but that smouldering rumor has had water poured on it of late. But come the iPhone 15, or iPhone 16 at the latest, we can expect Apple’s phones to have USB-C charging. 

The iPhone 15 would seem to be the most likely candidate to make the swap from Lighting to USB-C as that phone would likely launch early fall of next year. And Apple would likely want to be ahead of legislation rather than drag behind it. That same logic means there's still an outside chance of a USB-C iPhone 14, but we’re not going to hold our breath. 

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Roland Moore-Colyer
Roland Moore-Colyer

Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face.