Apple’s introduction of the Lightning Port was controversial, with accessories becoming locked into older handsets only, and new purchases were needed. The iPhone 15 family changed the port once more when it launched on Sept. 12, 2023, introducing the industry-standard USB-C port.

This is Day 29 of 30 Days of iPhone, a look at the moments that shaped the smartphone era .

Consumer Laws Demanded A Better iPhone

The change came about following years of regulatory discussions with the European Union as part of its Common Charger Standard , which required certain classes of consumer electronics to remove proprietary chargers in favor of the USB-C standard by late 2024. Apple argued the mandate would stifle design innovation, but it ultimately had no choice but to drop the Lightning port and the profits from its Made For iPhone program, which required using Apple’s technology.

Crucially, Apple decided not to split production and offer the EU market a USB-C port and the rest of the world a Lightning port, an approach that would split production and increase costs. Instead, the iPhone would adopt the same USB-C port already found in the iPad and Mac range. Just like that, Lightning accessory specialists pivoted towards standard USB-C docks, cables, power banks and more .

The iPhone’s Loss Of Lightning Revenue Benefited The Ecosystem

The industry gains were significant. Apple’s market share meant that, along with Android, USB-C could be considered standard on every new phone. To take one multimedia example, USB 3 transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps would allow direct 4K footage to be saved to an off-the-shelf external USB drive; a move that allowed consumer smartphones to approach the utility of professional camera rigs.

As the EU intended, the pain point of proprietary cables and chargers vanished. A single cable, with a base adaptor, could power anything from headphones to mobiles to gaming consoles to smartwatches. Apple was forced to relinquish its licensing revenue, but the industry standardised on cables and accessories, streamlining user choice and reducing barriers to competition.

This is Day 29 of 30 Days of iPhone. Yesterday, we examined the introduction of satellite connectivity to the iPhone .