A few days ago we reported that Apple had considered launching the iPhone 17 Air without any charging port. This has been Apple's plan since 2018 but it has not been offered due to concerns that it would violate the directive on the sale of electronic devices that must be equipped with a USB-C charging port that will come into effect from 2024.
Today, a representative of the European Commission (EC) confirmed that there is no obstacle to offering smartphones without USB-C as long as they support a previously standardized wireless charging system. Apple has already given access to using its MagSafe charging system to all manufacturers who want to use it. MagSafe is an extension of the Qi2 standard that is used by the industry as the preferred wireless charging system.
Because it is not a system used exclusively by Apple, the EC has no objection to devices without USB-C that support Qi2 and MagSafe in the future. This opens the door for perhaps next year, when smartphones without charging ports will begin to be offered to the public and Apple will no longer have to worry about their innovations being restricted by EU law.