Just a few days ago, we discussed leaked iPhone 17 dummy units and how Apple initially considered making the iPhone 17 Air completely portless. However, due to concerns over EU regulations, Apple had to revert and include a USB-C port. Now, it appears that the EU has given Apple the green light to pursue its vision of a portless iPhone.
This report comes from 9to5Mac, which explored the legal aspects of the matter. According to an EU press officer, Federica Miccoli, a portless iPhone could indeed comply with existing legislation. Miccoli says:
Since such radio equipment cannot be recharged via wired charging, it does not need to incorporate the harmonized (wired) charging solution.
As you may already know, Apple was forced to switch from the Lightning port to USB-C with the iPhone 15, thanks to EU environmental legislation. Specifically, the Common Charger Directive mandates a universal charging standard for smartphones and other electronics to reduce e-waste.
However, this regulation only applies to devices with wired charging. If a device lacks a charging port entirely, it isn’t required to include USB-C. That means Apple could legally release a portless iPhone in the future.
That said, according to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is still expected to include a USB-C port in the iPhone 17 Air, meaning we won’t see a portless iPhone this year. But next year? It’s looking more likely. A seamless glass-and-aluminum iPhone that charges exclusively via MagSafe could soon become a reality.
Honestly, while it might seem like a controversial change, I’m intrigued and would love to try a fully portless phone. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
