Last year, the EU passed a law mandating iPhones and most other wired-charged devices to be equipped with a USB-C port for sale in the region. Apple has until December 28, 2024 to comply with the law, but the switch from Lightning to USB-C is expected this year with the iPhone 15 models.

Back in February, there were rumors that Apple may plan to limit the charging speeds and other features of USB-C cables that are not certified under the Made for iPhone program. Similar to the Lightning port on current iPhones, a small chip inside the USB-C port on iPhone 15 models will authenticate the connected USB-C cable.

“I believe Apple will optimize the fast charging performance of MFi-certified chargers for the iPhone 15,” Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in March.

In response to the rumors, European Commissioner Thierry Breton sent a letter to Apple announcing that once the law comes into force, the functionality of USB-C cables will not be allowed to be limited and iPhones will not be allowed to be sold in the EU. data. German newspaper Die Zeit. The letter was seized by the German news agency DPA, and the report says the EU also warned Apple at a meeting in mid-March.

Given that it has until the end of 2024 to comply with the law, Apple may add an authentication chip to the USB-C port on iPhone 15 models later this year. And with the iPhone 16 models expected to be released in September 2024, even these devices will be on the market before the law goes into effect.

The report says the EU plans to publish guidelines by the third quarter of this year to ensure a “uniform interpretation” of the law. The possibility of Apple restricting the functionality of uncertified USB-C cables attached to iPhone 15 models is just a rumor at the moment, so we’ll see if the company will continue to implement the alleged plans. iPads with USB-C ports do not have an authentication chip for this purpose.