Will Apple leave Europe?

[Andrea B]

Although I'm glad that Apple went to USB-C, ditching lightning, to comply with EU regulations, this might present a more serious problem.

[Axtremus]

If car makers can make "left hand drive" vs. "right hand drive" versions of vehicles, surely phone makers can make phones with "easily replaceable" vs. "not easily replaceable" batteries. The EU market is big enough and rich enough to support this if it gets to that point.

[Horace]

Those sorts of regulations are why Europe is a paradise. "The road to paradise is paved with regulations". -European bureaucrats, probably

[Wim]

@Axtremus Exactly.

[Andrea B]

@Axtremus said:

If car makers can make "left hand drive" vs. "right hand drive" versions of vehicles, surely phone makers can make phones with "easily replaceable" vs. "not easily replaceable" batteries. The EU market is big enough and rich enough to support this if it gets to that point.

Fair point.

Then why did Apple go to USB-C when they thought that lightning was a superior concept?

Would that have been more complicated than easily-replaceable batteries?

I have no idea, just curious.

[jon-nyc]

They may try to exempt themselves per the community note.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Andrea-B said:

Would that have been more complicated than easily-replaceable batteries?

Call me Mr. Cynical, but I don't think the reason that Apple objects to doing this has much to do with engineering complexity.

[Horace]

They have a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders. It would be deeply immoral of Apple not to maximize profits above all else. To me, morals are everything, and I stand with Apple, regardless of the cost.

[Renauda]

@Horace

As does Apple stand with you, a voting shareholder.