Apple, which presented its latest two smartphone models this week, is starting a small revolution. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro will in fact be rechargeable via a USB-C cable, and no longer a Lightning, as has been the case for Apple devices since 2012.
The Californian company thus complies with the requirements of the European Union, which has decided to impose a single cable (USB-C, therefore) for all electronic devices by the end of 2024. Whether they are iPhone users or not, we asked our readers what they thought about it.
“It will make my life easier”
According to Franceinfo, more than 110 million smartphones are gathering dust in our cupboards in France. Which lets you imagine the number of chargers and cables that come with them. So for some consumers, the use of a single thread for all models is well received. “It’s a measure that will really make my life easier, I couldn’t stand all these cables lying around all the time,” says Sara, who responded to our call for witnesses.
iOS, Android… Paulo never resigned himself to choosing between the two systems, and today says he is delighted. “It’s great for those who have both an Android and an iPhone, finally the same charger! “. Charles is more measured, but also happy: “I’m team Samsung, but my wife is team IPhone. So I see this universalization of chargers in a good light, it will mean fewer cables when we travel or when we are in the car.”
And if Pénélope highlights the initiative, she still believes that this rapprochement could have happened much earlier. “It’s a good idea, no need to go find a special charger or a cable, no more hassle. But (…) it took almost thirty years to pass such a law. »
“We will have to manage additional stock”
This new European legislation aims in particular to reduce the quantity of electronic waste, and to save consumers money. But that doesn’t convince everyone. “I would have preferred to stay as is, because I already have several Lightning chargers and that will force me to buy more…”, sighs Delphine.
“And to think that before, I had a stock of Lightning cables that fit me well and that I had had for several years. Now, we’ll have to manage a stock of additional USB-C cables, until the whole family is equipped with phones with this standard… To end up throwing away my Lightning. In short, it’s useless, what a waste,” emphasizes Patrick.
” The end of an era “
Will this move to USB-C convince some people to switch to Apple? This will in any case not be the case for Françoise “I don’t use an iPhone. It’s snobbery, there is nothing that justifies the exorbitant prices compared to other products. Their policy of non-repair, of inventions to prevent repairs by independents such as changing the screw threads, sticking the battery, etc., exasperates me. Seeing these people rushing and queuing to buy the latest model is ridiculous,” she says.
Patrick, for his part, questions the lifespan of the chargers, “Mac and iPhone cables are a disaster, they never last, they turn yellow, they crumble…”, the models are however MFI certified by Apple, a label that guarantees their reliability.
Either way, consumers will have to deal with this new white thread. As Flavie and Patrice summarize, it is the “end of an era”.