iPhone fans warned NOT to throw away ‘essential’ gadget as Apple prepares huge change for new smartphone

CUSTOMERS of the new iPhone 15 have been warned not to throw away an essential gadget they may think they don't need once they slide open the box.

The iPhone 15, set to be unveiled tomorrow, is forecast to come with a brand new charger, which will look different to what many might expect.

Apple has been using its in-house Lightning connector for more than a decade.

Although the iPhone 15 hasn't been revealed yet, there's a strong feeling that it could use USB-C instead.

Apple retail employees are reportedly being prepped on how to explain to iPhone 15 customers that USB-C chargers and Lightning cables aren't interchangeable, according to a

This means a Lightning cable won't be able to power up a device with a USB-C charging port, and vice versa.

Existing iPhones will still be able to use the Lightning cable as normal.

Potential iPhone 15 customers must be wary not to throw away the plug part from their old iPhone - because the USB-C wire can be plugged into the plugs.

USB-C are widely used across electronic devices, like laptops, headphones and Android phones, as well as some of Apple's pre-existing products.

For example, Apple is already using USB-C on its iPads and Macs.

According to , the tech giant upped its orders of USB-C charger by around 120 per cent for the third quarter of this year.

The move suggests Apple will be making and selling more products that rely on the new cable.

The change might seem left field for some, but it's all down to a shift in EU law.

New rules tabled by the European Union force all smartphone makers - and other electronics - to shift to use USB-C.

The law is designed to cut down on loads of wasted wires.

But it also helps pave the way to a future of universal chargers - so nobody will be stuck without the right cable for their phone if they have misplaced their own.

While the EU's ruling will only apply to EU countries, it doesn't make sense for Apple to build two different types of iPhone - one with USB-C and another with Lightning.

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