{"id":52870,"date":"2025-03-19T15:33:30","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T14:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/?p=52870"},"modified":"2025-03-19T15:33:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T14:33:56","slug":"iphone-without-charging-port-eu-gives-green-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/en\/news\/iphone-ohne-ladeanschluss-eu-gibt-gruenes-licht","title":{"rendered":"iPhone without charging port: EU gives green light"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple has long resisted USB-C, but was forced to introduce the port due to an EU regulation. Now there's a new development: According to the EU, a portless iPhone would be completely legal. This would give Apple the option to do without a charging port in the future. In fact, there were already plans to make the iPhone 17 Air completely portless. The company ultimately decided against it \u2013 partly due to fears of regulatory issues. But now that the EU has provided clarity, Apple could take the next step.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple has often made drastic design decisions in the past. The omission of the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 was controversial at the time, but is now standard. The home button has also been replaced by gesture control and Face ID. The next logical step would be an iPhone without physical ports, charging only wirelessly and syncing data via the cloud. This is exactly what Apple planned for the iPhone 17 Air. But the company decided against it, primarily because it wasn't sure whether a portless device would comply with EU regulations. Now it's clear: the EU would have allowed it. This means that a portless iPhone could well become a reality in the next few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple had to introduce USB-C \u2013 but not forever<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The EU has decided that all smartphones sold in the European Union must have a standardized charging port to reduce e-waste and save consumers from having to buy new power adapters. Apple was forced to abandon the Lightning port and switch to USB-C, as it had already done with MacBooks and iPads. As the deadline for the switchover approached, Apple only sold two iPhone models with a Lightning port: the iPhone SE and the iPhone 14. Both were discontinued shortly before the deadline to comply with the regulations. What many people didn't know: The regulation only affects devices with wired charging. A smartphone that charges exclusively wirelessly is not subject to the regulation. This means that Apple could have already launched a portless model with the iPhone 17 Air without breaking the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple was afraid of the EU's reaction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple actually intended to develop the iPhone 17 Air as the first portless iPhone. It would have been the thinnest iPhone ever, and the lack of a charging port would have made for an even more minimalist design. Instead of USB-C, Apple would have relied entirely on MagSafe and wireless charging. Data transfers would have been possible only via iCloud or AirDrop. Technically, this wouldn't have been a problem, as MagSafe has since become established and is compatible with many wireless chargers thanks to the Qi2 standard. But Apple decided against it. The main reason was concern that EU regulations would not allow such a change. Now it has been confirmed: A portless smartphone would be completely legal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n