According to unofficial sources, Apple is preparing to release the iPhone 17 Air this fall — the thinnest smartphone in the company’s history. Interestingly, Apple considered making it the first iPhone model without a charging port at all. However, the idea was initially abandoned due to concerns over potential conflicts with European Union regulations. As it turns out, these concerns were unnecessary, and the company could move forward with a portless model without facing any regulatory barriers.
Several years ago, Apple was compelled to abandon its proprietary Lightning port in favor of USB Type-C to comply with European legislation. The EU’s primary concern was reducing electronic waste, which was exacerbated by the existence of multiple types of charging ports requiring different chargers. To address this issue, the EU introduced regulations mandating a unified charging standard. At the time the initiative was first proposed, microUSB was the most common connector. However, by the time the law was enacted, USB Type-C had become the prevailing standard, which was reflected in the legislation.
By then, Apple had already transitioned its Mac and iPad lineups to USB Type-C, leaving only the iPhone to make the switch. The deadline for compliance was set for the end of December 2024, prompting Apple to pull models like the iPhone SE and iPhone 14, which still featured the outdated Lightning port, from sales in Europe.
EU Confirms Portless Phones Are Allowed
Currently, Apple is working on the radically thin iPhone 17 Air. Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman reported that the company considered removing the wired charging port entirely. Apple decided not to proceed, partly due to fears that the decision might violate EU regulations. However, the European Commission has since confirmed that devices without charging ports do not contravene existing laws. Specifically, the regulation only requires USB Type-C ports if a device includes a wired charging port — it does not mandate that a port must be present.
European Commission spokesperson Federica Miccoli clarified:
“Since such radio equipment cannot be charged using a wired charger, it may not include an agreed-upon charging solution. The Commission will promote the harmonization of wireless charging in order to avoid future fragmentation of the internal market and any negative consequences for consumers and the environment.”
Furthermore, in January 2023, Apple contributed its MagSafe technology to the Wireless Power Consortium, which has since formed the basis of the Qi2 wireless charging standard, reminds NIX Solutions. Therefore, a phone without a wired charging port that uses MagSafe technology will not face objections from EU regulators. While Apple is unlikely to implement this change with the iPhone 17 Air, the release of a portless iPhone now seems only a matter of time. We’ll keep you updated as more developments unfold.