Apple reportedly considered removing the USB-C port from the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. Charging and data syncing would therefore be done solely wirelessly: Qi or MagSafe for power, Wi-Fi and the cloud for data. But according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the Apple company decided to keep the USB-C port to avoid upsetting the European Union, which has mandated this connection on all smartphones.
Apple could have asked the Commission... or simply consult the Directive on single charging in force in the EU. As it stands, the text does not prohibit smartphones without a USB-C port at all. What the directive explains is that "to the extent that [devices] can be charged by means of wired charging", then they must be equipped with a USB-C port. The connection is not mandatory as long as the device in question is charged wirelessly.
This is exactly the meaning of the confirmation from spokesperson Federica Miccoli, who explained to 9to5Mac that a smartphone without a USB-C port can be sold in Europe: "Since this radio equipment cannot be charged by a cable, it does not need to integrate the harmonized wired charging solution [USB-C]."
Regarding wireless charging, the directive does not impose any technology, but in the long term, the Commission will have to work to promote and harmonize these solutions to avoid future market fragmentation. Brussels "will monitor the evolution of all wireless charging technologies (not just induction), in particular market developments, market penetration, market fragmentation, technological performance, interoperability, efficiency "energy efficiency and charging performance," the representative added.
In short, the ball is in Apple's court if the manufacturer wants to develop an iPhone without any ports.
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