Apple will be forced to change the charger for the iPhone
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The EU has approved legislation that will make USB-C charging ports mandatory for all phones, tablets and other electronic devices. The law would force Apple to stop selling iPhones using a proprietary power connector known as “Lightning” in EU countries. Instead, the USB-C connectors currently used by Android devices will become EU standard, forcing Apple to change the charging port on all of its new products. The law comes into force in 2024, affects only EU countries.
“The shared charger will finally become a reality in Europe. We have been waiting for these rules for over 10 years, but we can finally leave the current abundance of chargers in the past. This forward-looking law allows for the development of innovative charging solutions for the future that will benefit everyone from frustrated consumers to our vulnerable environment,” said Alex Agius Saliba, Member of the European Parliament.
The law applies not only to phones, but also to tablets, e-readers, headphones, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, portable game consoles, and portable speakers. Laptops are also covered, but manufacturers will have additional time to comply (until 2026).
Apple fans will still be able to use their old Lightning chargers and devices with Lightning ports. But new devices sold in Europe from 2024 will need to have USB-C.
Ultimately, this should make life easier for consumers who are tired of rummaging through a tangle of cables to find what they need.
All this complicates things for Apple. The firm may need to make devices with USB-C ports for sale in the EU and Northern Ireland, and devices with Lightning ports for sale in the UK and other non-EU countries. To simplify matters, Apple could have simply opted to manufacture devices with USB-C ports throughout Europe.
The EU introduced this rule in order to have a single charging cord for smartphones and other devices and reduce the amount of electronic waste. It is estimated that discarded or unused chargers account for 11,000 metric tons of e-waste in Europe each year. Having a single charger would save consumers about 250 million euros ($247.3 million).
Meanwhile, Apple has warned in the past that the proposal would hurt innovation and create a new mountain of e-waste.
Christina DENISYUK.
Photo: Alexander_Evgenyevich / Shutterstock
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