EU deadline for switch to USB-C

The European Union’s deadline for device manufacturers to switch to USB-C for their data and charging ports means that Apple will have to abandon its iPhone Lightning connector


USB-C: Introduced in 2014. USB Type-C is universal standard for wired connection, allowing charging and data transfer of smart devices on single cable

Dec 27, 2024: Deadline for device manufacturers to switch to USB-C

Data transfer speed	Up to 20Gbps

USB-C connector: 24 pins. 16 for data transfer, four for power, four ground pins

Symmetrical design: Can be inserted into port face up or face down

Thunderbolt 4: Launched in 2020. Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro will likely support Thunderbolt 4

Connector: Uses same interface as USB-C – cables are interchangeable

Data transfer speed
Up to 40Gbps

Lightning: Launched in 2012. Lightning performs same function as USB-C, but can only be used with iPhones and older iPads
 
Connector: Eight pins each side. Six for data transfer, one for power, and one ground pin

Data transfer speed	Up to 480Mbps


Sources: Apple Insider, Bloomberg, Design Reviews, Tech Radar
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