[audunw]

Do you think Apple would argue that they can’t put USB-C on a phone? Or have they already? I haven’t seen it and it wouldn’t make much sense.

The only consumer oriented argument, which IMO isn’t bad, is that a lot of people have Lightning peripherals for their phones that they’d have to replace. It’s really the only explanation that can explain why they’d change to USB-C on iPads but not iPhones. With laptops and iPads using adapters with most peripherals you’d use there is not a problem. People don’t tend to use something like a FLIR camera with iPad, and such a camera would be extremely flimsy to use on an iPhone with a USB-C to Lightning adapter.

I’m not arguing that Apple shouldn’t switch to USB-C, but I think this is a decent argument why delaying it has been good for a certain subset of customers.

I think they were hoping that they could go all-wireless for consumer iPhone and USB-C on Pro iPhones. They didn’t want to switch before that because they don’t want to send the signal that peripheral makers can rely on USB-C for all iPhones. But wireless charging tech hasn’t progressed as fast they hoped.

[danaris]

The other argument against the EU directive isn't about now, it's about what happens in 5, 10 years, when our technology has progressed, but the directive still specifies USB-C.

[AndrewDucker]

From https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_...

Any technological developments in wired charging can be reflected in a timely adjustment of technical requirements/ specific standards under the Radio Equipment Directive. This would ensure that the technology used is not outdated.

At the same time, the implementation of any new standards in further revisions of Radio Equipment Directive would need to be developed in a harmonised manner, respecting the objectives of full interoperability. Industry is therefore expected to continue the work already undertaken on the standardised interface, led by the USB-IF organisation, in view of developing new interoperable, open and non-controversial solutions.

[solarkraft]

This wasn’t a problem when they standardized on micro USB and USB-C came along

[AndrewDucker]

They've made it clear that they are happy to update you the latest standards when the standards move on.

[mkr-hn]

Do any EU laws/directives have sunset clauses? I don't know if that's a thing in this context.