Saudi Arabia Passes Law Requiring USB-C on iPhones, Androids
Apple has once again thwarted its plans for smartphone hardware, but this will have no impact The much-anticipated fall release of the iPhone 15. Saudi Arabia had passed a law require all future smartphones that will be sold in the country from 2025 will have USB-C ports.
GSM arena reports that the law will come into force on January 1st, 2o25 and all iPhones and Androids will be sold after that date in the kingdom have to play sports a USB-C port. TThe law comes from the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization and the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission. Other hardware that must have a USB-C port includes keyboards, headphones, speakers, and routers. The law is an attempt to reduce e-waste and improve user experience while saving customers an estimated 170 million riyals, which those authorities say is equivalent to about $45 million. Apple and Google did not immediately respond to Gizmodo’s request for comment on the new law.
A second part of the law is applicable to laptops. From April 1, 2026, all laptops and portable computers will be sold in Saudi Arabia must also have a USB-C connector. The law of Saudi Arabia follows a similar mandate A USB-C connector was approved by the EU last fall, making USB-C the standard charging mechanism for smartphones sold in the region. Those laws definitely put Apple under pressure, as the company is known to use its own Lightning connector that doubles as a charger and jack for wired earbuds.
Related: The European Union finally reaches an agreement on a single charger that will rule them all
In response to the EU law on USB-C, Apple was was ready to give in, but had plans to keep the technology proprietary. A leaker revealed that while USB-C is coming to the iPhone 15, data transfer speeds could increase For the basic and plus models of the smartphone, the speed can be throttled to USB 2.0 speeds. Data speeds for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can be limited to USB-C 3.2 and Thunderbolt 3. Cables or accessories that are not made by Apple and do not meet Apple’s Made for iPod certification standard may also experience reduced data speeds.
