'RIP Lightning!' Apple fans delighted iPhone 15 getting USB-C charger

Apple fans are delighted the iPhone 15 is getting a standard USB-C power connector – as one says ‘now everything in my house can use the same charger’

  • Apple has used its own Lightning port in its iPhones since 2012
  • But amid a new EU law, rumours suggest it’s changing to USB-C in the iPhone 15
  • Fans have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their delight at the change 

Apple fans have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their delight at the rumours that the iPhone 15 will finally be getting a USB-C power connector.

Apple has used its own Lightning port in its iPhones since 2012.

However, the tech giant is expected to kill this off in favour of the widely used USB-C connection for its iPhone 15 range, which will be unveiled tomorrow.

The change comes as the EU has passed a law to force all consumer technology firms to use USB-C chargers by December next year.

Taking to X, one delighted fan tweeted: ‘At least now everything in my house can use the same charger.’

Apple fans have taken to X (formerly Twitter ) to express their delight at the rumours that the iPhone 15 will finally be getting a USB-C power connector 

Apple has used its own Lightning port in its iPhones since 2012. However, the tech giant is expected to kill this off in favour of the widely used USB-C connection for its iPhone 15 range, which will be unveiled tomorrow 

READ MORE: iPhone 15 launch event: How and when to watch

The USB-C charging port is already commonly used for Android phones, as well as many other Apple products, including its latest iPad and MacBook models.

The new EU legislation aims to make this charging design the common standard – and ultimately reduce electronic waste.

Several delighted fans have taken to X to discuss the rumoured change.

‘Finally, all your devices can be charged with a single cable,’ one user wrote.

‘All new smartphones use the same charger type. To me this is the biggest iPhone 15 change and the main reason of why me and my spouse upgrading from iPhone 11.’

Another added: ‘Less cables. I already use USB-C for everything else and having to have a separate lightening is annoying. If my iPhone cable breaks I could just use one of my spare USB-C’s.’

And one joked: ‘Android users will finally be free from the embarrassment of asking for a charger & getting blank stares from everybody in the room because they’re iPhone users.’

One user joked: ‘Android users will finally be free from the embarrassment of asking for a charger & getting blank stares from everybody in the room because they’re iPhone users’

Taking to X, one delighted fan tweeted: ‘At least now everything in my house can use the same charger’

READ MORE: iPhone 15 dummy models  suggest smartphone will launch in NINE colours

Apple has previously pushed back against calls to switch to USB-C, with the suggestion that forcing users away from the Lightning cable would instead create an ‘unprecedented volume’ of electronic waste.

In addition, Apple argues that the switch could cost consumers up to €1.5billion.

Speaking in 2021, an Apple spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We believe that regulations that impose harmonization of smartphone chargers would stifle innovation rather than encourage it.

‘It will harm consumers in Europe and the economy in as a whole.’

Some Apple users have also voiced their concerns about the electronic waste generated amid the change.

‘Vast majority of iPhone users don’t care in fact the brand new unused lightning cables that I have are going to go to waste when I upgrade to usb-c,’ one user wrote.

‘Everyone I know has many cables that will be trashed which is horrible for the environment.’

Another added: ‘Now wait till I throw all my lightning cable accessories and buy new ones. 100% environmental healthy.’

Apple has previously pushed back against calls to switch to USB-C, with the suggestion that forcing users away from the Lightning cable would instead create an ‘unprecedented volume’ of waste

Some Apple users have also voiced their concerns about the electronic waste generated amid the change

According to the European Commission, the average person living in the EU owns at least three chargers. Of these, two are used on a regular basis.

However, 38 per cent of people have reported not being able to charge their phones at least once because they could not find a compatible charger.

‘Chargers power all our most essential electronic devices,’ said EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton.

‘With more and more devices, more and more chargers are sold that are not interchangeable or not necessary. We are putting an end to that.’

Thankfully, there’s not long to wait to see what Apple has in store for the iPhone 15 range. 

The new smartphones are widely rumoured to be launching on September 12 during an event at Apple Park, the company’s HQ in Cupertino, California. 

THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE

1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.

The first product was the Apple I. 

1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market. 

Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.

1981: Jobs became chairman.  

1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.

1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.

1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.  

The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone

2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.

The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.

2007: Apple unveils the iPhone. 

2010: The first iPad was unveiled.

2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.

2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus. 

2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services. 

2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.  

2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.    

Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers. 

2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.

2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus. 

2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced. 

2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system. 

2023: So far this year Apple has brought back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands. 

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