Amid the anticipated announcement of the new iPhone 15, a big question at the 2023 Apple event is regarding its charging port.
Apple is expected to unveil its range of iPhone 15 smartphones at its Apple event on Tuesday – with one big question being about the charging port.
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Many will be on the lookout for the latest shiny products, apps, and features that the technology giant loves to show off as it attempts to boost sales at its annual event.
However, the European Union has mandated that Apple products sold within the bloc must have a universal charging port, ending the company’s long tradition of having its own charging port.
There will be a lot of intrigue around the rumored iPhone 15 announcement, along with possible announcements of other tech upgrades like an Apple smartwatch.
iPhone 15
Apple is expected to reveal the iPhone 15 as the star of the event, but like other smartphone makers, it’s unlikely to be any huge technological leap from the current generation phones.
iPhone 15 models are likely to range from lower-priced basic models to more expensive premium versions, featuring mostly incremental advancements in the devices’ chips, batteries, and cameras.
The original iPhone 15 models may also be redesigned to include a resizable cutout on the display screen that Apple calls its Dynamic Island for app notifications.
Dynamic Island was introduced with last year’s Pro and Pro Max devices.
There are rumors that this year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max may feature periscope-style telephoto lenses that will improve the quality of photos taken from a distance.
The telephoto lens may boast 6x optical zoom, which will still lag behind the 10x optical zoom on Samsung’s premium Galaxy S22 Ultra, but will be a significant upgrade from the 3x optical zoom on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
The improved camera is one of the reasons why Apple is also expected to increase the prices of the Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone 14 Pro starts at $1,000 (€932) while the Pro Max starts at $1,100 (€1,026).
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Analysts believe iPhone 15 versions of those models could cost an additional $100 (€93) to $200 (€186), testing how much consumers are willing to pay for the devices at a time when Post-pandemic inflation is squeezing household budgets.
universal charging port
Away from the flashy side of the technology, a more fundamental question will be resolved – will Apple introduce universal charging for all of its products instead of just the EU market?
The bloc has ordered that by the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the bloc must be equipped with USB Type-C charging ports.
So Apple is being forced to phase out the Lightning port cable it started in 2012 with the release of the iPhone 5, but it’s not clear why the company initially planned the switchover to USB-C ports specifically. Whether or not it will be limited to models made for the European market. Or create change around the world.
Techsponential’s Avi Greengart said, “According to rumors, Apple will adopt USB-C this year instead of waiting until next year to comply with European regulations.”
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He added, “This will upset a lot of Apple users… but they will get used to it, they will have no choice.”
Two years ago, when the EU text was being discussed, Apple tried to oppose it, arguing that its Lightning technology was used in more than a billion devices worldwide, and the new rules “will stifle innovation” and “will harm consumers”.
For the EU, the aim is to simplify life and reduce the amount of electronic waste generated as chargers become obsolete.
Tough quarter for tech giants
The event on Tuesday at Apple’s Cupertino California headquarters comes after a brief downturn that has seen its sales decline for three consecutive quarters since last year.
Company management has indicated that another recession is likely during the current quarter. Apple’s share price has fallen nearly 10 percent since mid-July, pushing the company’s market value below the $3 trillion (€2.8 trillion) threshold it first reached earlier this summer.
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Apple will be hoping that unveiling the new range of phones will generate the kind of excitement that Apple events have successfully achieved many times before.
