Apple could be forced to add USB-C ports on older iPhone models in India

Just as the EU did with its common rule on chargers that led Apple to equip the iPhone 15 series with USB-C ports replacing the company's proprietary Lightning ports, India added its own similar rule . But Reuters (via AppleInsider) reports that Apple met with the country's IT ministry late last month and during the closed-door meeting, Apple requested that certain exemptions be added to the new common rules for chargers in the country. New Indian rule requires all electronic devices to use USB-C for charging by June 2025.

Part of the new rules would require Apple to replace the Lightning port on older iPhone models with a USB-C port and this is the issue that led Apple to meet with India's IT ministry. While the EU rule change only affected new iPhone models released after the rule took effect in 2024, Apple decided that instead of having to change things in the middle of the iPhone15 release cycle, it would switch to USB-C starting with the release of 2023 iPhone models last September.

India's new rules, on the other hand, must be followed for all electronic devices sold in the country, regardless of the specific device's initial release date. This would force Apple to change the charging and data transfer ports on older models it sells in India, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 13. For Apple, this would be a hassle and would likely increase the prices of these models. which would pose a problem in a developing country like India (which remains the world's second largest market for smartphones).

Given that the majority of iPhones sold in India are older models (again, India being a developing country), the common charger rule in India could hit Apple hard in India. Apple says that if it has to make changes to older iPhone models, the company will not meet the targets of India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) program. A pet project of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PLI offers financial incentives to manufacturers to increase production in India and make investments in the country.