iPhone, AirPods: India may not force USB-C on some devices
India intends to force the presence of a USB-C port on the various technological devices in order to have a common port and therefore a cable compatible with all brands. But there might be some exceptions upon arrival.
According to the Indian media mint, which quotes a high-ranking official, the government is considering exempting feature phones (basic phones), wearables (connected watches, etc.) and hearables (wireless headphones, etc.) from the law requiring USB-C on electronics. The official cites device makers and stakeholders concerned that requiring these products to adopt the universal port will lead to increased costs for consumers.
Given the list of device categories, Apple may technically not be required to put a USB-C port on the charging case of its AirPods. We still have to get the green light from the government. For the iPhone, it seems certain: India will force Apple to abandon its Lightning port.
The European Union has already passed a law requiring devices sold in the region to have a USB-C port by 2024, including AirPods. Under European regulations, Apple will be required to switch AirPods to USB-C, even though the Indian requirement says otherwise.
If we are to believe the insistent rumors, USB-C will arrive on the iPhone 15. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president in charge of marketing, has already confirmed that the iPhones will switch to the USB-C port following European regulations, but he did not specify when.
