After many changes, discussions, disagreements and consultations, the EU has officially concluded that all smartphones sold in Europe must be equipped with a USB-C port for charging, including Apple. The USB-C port will also be mandatory on other electronic devices, such as tablets, digital cameras, headphones, consoles, speakers, keyboards and e-readers.
According to the EU decision, the rule for mandatory use of USB-C will apply from autumn 2024 for all smartphones sold in European countries. This is a much-debated decision and will affect Apple the most, as the iPhone uses the company's Lightning port for wired charging.
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Apple has already introduced USB-C ports on MacBooks and iPads, but now it will need to switch from Lightning to USB-C on iPhones (at least on those it sells in Europe).
The EU said the mandatory switch to USB-C aims to reduce consumer hassle by allowing consumers to charge multiple smartphones and devices with a single charger, and to reduce “electronic waste”by allowing users to reuse older chargers for new devices.
The EU has officially reached an agreement , but the decision has not yet been approved by the European Parliament and the European Council. However, this is a formal procedure that will take place soon.
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European Parliament spokesman Alex Agius Saliba said: “Today we made the common charger in Europe a reality.”
“European consumers have long been frustrated with the multiple chargers that come with each new device. Now they can use a single charger for all their portable electronics. We are proud to also include laptops, e-readers, headphones, keyboards, computer mice and portable navigation devices, along with smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headsets, portable video game consoles and portable speakers.“.
Laptops will have to comply with the legislation within 40 months of its entry into force.
Ben Wood, principal analyst at CCS Insight, said the new announcement may not cause much of a problem for Apple, as the company already uses USB-C in some of its products, and he was already aware that serious discussions were taking place about such a possibility.
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Additionally, last month, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuoclaimed that the company plans to ditch the Lightning port and switch to USB-C on all or some models of the new iPhone 15, due in 2023, and predicted that the same will happen with other devices, including AirPods.
Source: www.theguardian.com
