As a result of EU pressure, Apple has verified that the new iPhone will not feature its proprietary lightning charging port.
The tech titan announced at its annual event on Tuesday that the iPhone 15 would use a USB-C cable as the "universally accepted standard."
A new Apple Watch series with a more advanced processor was also introduced. However, according to one analyst, Apple's paucity of "headline-grabbing" updates this year will disappoint some consumers.
It illustrates how refined the iPhone and Watch are, as well as how difficult it has become to deliver genuinely disruptive updates annually.
Next week's release of the new iPhone is the first since 2012 to feature an alternative charging port.
The company stated that the USB-C cable, which is already compatible with numerous Apple laptops and iPads, will also be compatible with new versions of its AirPods Pro earphones and tethered EarPods headphones.
The EU instructed the tech titan to abandon its proprietary charging ports in order to make consumers' lives easier, save them money, and reduce e-waste by encouraging charger re-use. However, some caution that the move will increase the amount of discarded cables over time.
Apple made a lot of environmental commitments about its new products during the launch event that took place on Tuesday.
One of these goals was to make the new Apple Watch range carbon neutral for the first time. Additionally, the amount of recycled materials utilized in the batteries and other components of the new Watch and iPhone will grow as a result of this change.
In addition, the company announced it would no longer use leather in any of its accouterments and committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, described the new iPhone 15 lineup as "the best and most capable iPhones we've ever produced."
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have received brighter displays and enhanced camera systems, while the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have received a titanium frame to enhance their durability. In addition to the mute switch, the Pro and Max have a customizable "action button" in place of the mute switch.
The new Apple Watch will feature gesture control, allowing the wearer to answer or terminate a call by double-tapping two fingers on the same hand.
Some experts, however, questioned whether consumers would be willing to pay the high price tags for the devices, given that they are not significantly different from their predecessors.
The iPhone 15 Pro starts at £999 in the UK. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, it will be difficult to convince consumers to purchase these new devices, according to sources.
Some may view the new features as insignificant, but collectively they enhance the overall experience, which is invaluable to Apple's core user base.
Apple's stock fell slightly on Tuesday, unable to recover from a sharp decline last week prompted by reports that the Chinese government had forbidden officials from using iPhones.
The publication of a new smartphone series by Huawei in China contributed to investor unease.
