Apple's iPhone 15 is a big win for the EU in its war with Big Tech
Apple has described a key change to iPhones as a win for consumers. Yet it was not a change made of the company's own volition.
When Apple unveiled its new batch of iPhones on Wednesday morning, it touted them as being stronger, quicker and lighter than ever. Yet the iPhone 15 launch is not just a victory lap for Apple or its diehard fans. It's also a win for the European Union in its perennial battle with big US tech companies.
At the bottom of every iPhone 15, from the base model to the high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max, will be a USB-C port. That makes it different to every model since 2012's iPhone 5, which have been charged with Apple's proprietary Lightning cable.
USB-C cables are used to charge Android phones, iPads and laptops. Apple boasted the change as a win for customers, who can now use the same charger to power all their devices. Yet it was not a move made of the company's own volition.
In October of 2022 the European Union mandated that all phones sold to its 450 million citizens must feature a common charger. Its premise is that different chargers make life harder for customers, and result in more landfill. The European Parliament estimates unused and discarded chargers add up to 11,000 tonnes in e-waste each year.
