Ultimatum from the European Union to Apple for the charging speed of the iPhone: they threaten to ban the sale

The deadline for Apple to change its charging system is about to be met by European Union (EUROPEAN UNION). Although the measure will only come into effect in 2024, everything seems to indicate that the iPhone with USB-C will be a reality. Now the debate goes to the cable.

Apple’s tug of war doesn’t end with the USB-C port, as it now plans to apply the Made for iPhone (MFI) seal so not all USB-C cables will charge with the same power nor do they have the highest transfer speeds.

To certify that the cable and charger are in sync, Apple will introduce a small sensor that will show a green light on the iPhone to indicate that the two accessories are compatible.

At Apple they thought it was a way out where everyone wins. Since they continue to raise funds for their accessories and, at the same time, comply with USB-C, the port that the European Union considers the new universal.

It was Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, who sent a letter to Apple to clarify that limiting connectivity would break the rules of the EU. And that the trick that would allow you to continue selling accessories separately will not be allowed.

According to the policy made by Apple, the cable used in Android phones It doesn’t work for an iPhone. As it is not MFi certified, the phone cannot be charged.

Therefore, while MFi cables can deliver the maximum load, the seconds would be seriously limited, a measure that seems to go against those environmental concerns that Cupertino so often talks about.

To this Breton also added that “devices that do not meet the requirements for uniform tariffs will not be sold on the EU market”. Breton would have already reminded the company of the new rules of the game last March.

In light of this quirk, since the new rule won’t go into effect until the end of 2024, Apple isn’t obligated to follow the EU’s recommendations until those dates arrive. Therefore, the iPhone 15 may come with a lightning door and it wouldn’t be until the iPhone 16 that they would adopt USB-C.

A battle for innovation

The Cupertino company has appealed on this point on several occasions, going so far as to state that the rule of the single loader harms innovation.

However, these arguments didn’t help them get away with it, so they will necessarily have to comply with this rule if they want to continue selling iPhones in Europe.

To avoid any subterfuge that disguises this legal framework, Brussels will publish, in the third quarter of this year, a guide whose main objective is to provide a “uniform interpretation of the legislation”.

The numbers for Apple aren’t very good as its revenue fell 3% ($94.8 billion) in the first three months of 2023 as consumers reduced spending on smartphones and computers amid fears of an impending recession. .

The company’s revenue was slightly better than Wall Street expected, but still represented the second consecutive quarterly decline for the iPhone maker.