Indiana iPhone Users: What Apple's Switch to USB-C Means for You

The way you charge your iPhone and other Apple devices may be changing soon. Here's what you need to know.

The Introduction of the Lightning Cable

Apple iPhone consumers have grown accustomed to using a Lightning cable for charging their devices since the company first moved away from the pin-style charging connector back in 2012. Unfortunately, Lightning cables are only compatible with Apple devices, and that may have just come back to bite the electronics manufacturer.

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

Changes in Europe

The European Parliament passed a law that will require all mobile devices like smartphones, laptops, and wireless headphones sold in all European Union countries to support USB-C charging by 2024, and that would include Apple's beloved iPhone. According to USA Today,

The EU said the new law will save consumers from having to spend money on various charging cords to keep their mobile devices powered. Officials also said the requirements will help curb electronic waste from obsolete chargers and prevent consumers from being locked into a specific manufacturer because of a proprietary charging standard.

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Will The Changes Carry Into The US?

Following the new European law regarding USB-C charging, several United States lawmakers have made to push for changes similar to those in Europe, citing similar concerns about electronic waste. That push took place back in June of 2022. Many other major electronics manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, LG, Sony, and Google have already made the switch to USB-C charging for many of their devices.

Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash

Should You Keep or Toss Your Lightning Cable?

As of now, there is no word on when we can expect to see USB-C charging coming to iPhone devices. However, it is pretty safe to assume that it will happen in the US, especially if it is going to be required in Europe. So what do you do with your Lightning cable? For now, hang onto it and the charging block as well. If you have an iPhone 12 or newer, you likely already have a USB-C charging block to connect to your Lightning cable. Once the changes do roll out, your charging block should work with any new cable requirements. So, while you may need a new cable for your future devices, you should still be ok for now with the charger and cable that you already have.

[Source: USA Today]

How to Set a Contact as an Emergency Bypass on Your iPhone

This safety feature will make sure you don't miss an important phone call by allowing this person to bypass your phone's silent setting. Basically if your phone is on silent, if this contact calls you it will ring so you absolutely don't miss their call.

How To Set Up Sound Recognition On Your iPhone

You can turn on the Sound Recognition feature on your iPhone and your phone can listen for specific sounds and alert you when they are detected. These sounds could be very useful and could protect your family.

Source: Indiana iPhone Users: Here’s What Apple’s Switch to USB-C Means for You