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Apple USBC or Lightning Connector Debate

This debate/discussion occurred on 27 Oct 2022 at 11:33:00...

A debate regarding the EU pressure on Apple to switch the charging port on iPhones from their own "Lightning" to the "standard" USBC.

Me Apple have been moving to USBC for a while now. They will change with or without the EU.

Opponent YEAH RIGHT!

Me I'm not sure why you doubt this when it has been clearly happening for a while now.

Opponent You daft mate ? They are only changing because the EU voted for a single solution for all personal electronic devices. If it was about speed or technology or about giving users "control" then Apple are known for being anti consumer and being pigheaded in forcing people to get locked into their devices without a hope in hell of being able to use aftermarket solutions. Hence why we have Apple specific repair kits because heaven forbid someone opens their device and repair it. On the other hand mate I've got a lottery ticket from Nigeria to sell you :)

Me All their computers have used USBC for years. The iPads mostly used it for a while and the last one switched recently. Lightning is clearly inadequate and needs to be replaced. USBC is the obvious choice. Not sure why this "locked in customers" conspiracy is so popular.

Opponent They have USB-C on the MacBooks and have for a while.

Opponent No way. Apple have been resistant to this the whole time they could have changed their phones to USB C years ago. Apple is gearing up to fight the EU over the lightning connector THEVERGE.COM. Apple is gearing up to fight the EU over the lightning connector.

Me An article from 2020. They weren't ready to swap then. It's always been part of the plan though.

Opponent Ah yes the high and mighty Apple. Like they weren't delaying for years because of high returns on every lightning cable produced.

Me Well you can guess their motivation if you wish, but I would have thought that risking the much higher income from the iPhone would not have been worth the risk. I think there were other reasons for this, especially since everything else has already been swapped over.

Opponent The reason is most likely because now you have to throw all your Lightning accessories out, and buy new USB-C ones just in time for them to become obsolete as everything goes wireless. Could have skipped the USB-C step.

Me Yes, that is also an issue. I could do without the lightning port on my phone thanks to wireless Airpods and wireless charging. So I guess it might not even be an issue much longer anyway.

Opponent They have USB-C on the MacBooks and have for a while.

Opponent Apple tried to fight against the EU law change.... I don't think they really wanted to switch.

Me Of course they didn't want some idiot bureaucrats telling them how to design a phone. They wanted to, and will, transition to USBC in their own time.

Note that there were multiple people debating be here, and some were on my side!