The European Union today gave final approval to legislation that will force tech companies like Apple to switch to the USB-C interface on their various devices.
According to an official EU press release, the European Council today approved the European Parliament’s new regulations for universal chargers, finalizing a legislative process that means that by the end of 2024, the USB-C interface will become mandatory for a range of electronic devices such as phones, tablets and headphones, and users will no longer need to buy a different charger each time they buy a new phone or similar device, all of which can use the same charger can be used for charging.
The new rules will force all electronic devices to use a USB-C charging port, meaning most devices can be charged from the same charger. Additionally, to let consumers know exactly what they’re buying, the new rule introduces an icon specifying whether a new device has a charger and a sticker indicating charging performance.
The new rules also allow consumers to choose whether to buy new devices with or without chargers, which not only saves consumers money but also reduces e-waste associated with the production, shipping and disposal of chargers. Four years after the new rules go into effect, the commission will assess whether such sales bundling should be enforced.
The new regulations will apply to a variety of portable devices:
cell phone
Tablets and eReaders
Digital cameras and video game consoles
Headphones, Earbuds and Portable Speakers
Wireless Mouse and Keyboard
Portable Navigation System
In addition, 40 months after the new rules go into effect, all laptops will also be covered by the new rules.
In 2020, EU consumers bought around 420 million electronic devices, with an average of three chargers per person. Still, 38% of consumers report having problems charging their devices because no compatible chargers are available.
To address these issues, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a universal charger on September 23, 2021. On January 26, 2022, less than six months after the Council began negotiations, member states unanimously agreed on the Council’s position on the new regulation for common chargers. On June 7, 2022, the Council and the European Parliament reached an interim agreement on the new regulation for universal chargers, which was approved by representatives of EU member states on June 29, 2022.
The legislative bill was passed after the Council approved the European Parliament’s position today. After being signed by the Presidents of the European Parliament and the Council, it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force 20 days after publication. The new rules will apply 24 months after they go into effect.
Tianfeng International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman both said that Apple is testing a version of the iPhone with a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will switch iPhones to USB-C starting with the iPhone 15 series in 2023, before transitioning to AirPods and other accessories.
