Negotiators from the European Parliament and the 27 EU members states agreed on Monday to introduce standard charging port for mobile phones and other electronic devices from 2024. “USB Type-C will be the universal charging port for all smartphones,tablets,e-readers and digital cameras in the EU by autumn 2024,” the European Parliament said in a statement. In addition, IMCO also requires the devices to unify the quick charging technology and sell the chargers and devices separately.
A follow-up statement added that USB-C would be the universal charging port for all phones,tablets and cameras in the EU by autumn 2024. But laptops will have a longer transition period---40 months after the new rules take effect.
The EU began pushing the standard of charging ports more than a decade ago, but only announced plans last September. The consortium thinks a unified charging interface could save consumers €250 millions a year and reduce electronics waste. “For many of the electronic devices in our daily lives, a common charger should be the consensus,” EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement. “European consumers can satisfy all portable electronics with just one charger, which is an important step towards increasing convenience and reducing waste.” The iPhone must be type-C compliant within two years, this means that the iPhone must abandon the very profitable MFI certification business 2 years after this rule take effect!
Apple has long opposed the EU proposal. The company has previously said that inappropriate use of outdated international standards stifles innovation and creates e-waste by forcing users to replace their chargers. But foreign media confirmed that Apple has been testing a new USB-C interface according to people familiar with this matter. Last month, a well-known analyst predicted that Apple would consider switching the iPhone 15 series from Lighting to USB-C in 2023.
