We finally have an official date of when new smartphones sold in the European Union (EU), including Apple iPhone models, will have to mandatorily feature USB-C for charging. The EU has published a common charger directive in its official journal and according to that, all small devices, including smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, earbuds, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems will have to support USB-C charging port, starting December 28, 2024.
The new EU rules mean tech giant Apple will be forced to bid adieu to the Lightning iPhone port which it has been introducing to date in its iPhone models, including this year’s iPhone 14 series. The Lightning iPhone ports are being used by almost 20 per cent of devices sold in Europe. However, there has been a debate over the better shelf life of Lightning Ports over Type-C ports as the latter is said to become loose with usage.
“ЁЯФМThe Directive (EU) 2022/2380 related to the #CommonCharger for mobile devices is published in the #OfficialJournal
It will enter into force on 27/12/2022 ЁЯУ▒ https://europa.eu/!ykCFhJ #ThisIsTheEU #Sustainability #IMCO #SingleMarket,” EUR-Lex, the account of the official EU law database and home of the EU official journal, has tweeted.
The new common charger rules will become effective in 20 days and individual EU member states will have a maximum of 24 months to apply them as national law.
According to reports, laptops will also be eventually covered under this rule, but not until April 2026. By the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB-C charging port. From spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops. The new law is part of a broader EU effort to reduce e-waste and to empower consumers to make more sustainable choices, says an old press note shared by the European Parliament.
Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charger every time they purchase a new device, as they will be able to use one single charger for a whole range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices.
Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, the note added.