Now it’s official. The EU just set a deadline for manufacturers, including Apple, to offer a USB-C port on their devices. The Apple brand has until December 28, 2024 to ditch Lightning on iPhone and iPad in favor of this universal charging system.
As you may know, the European Union has been fighting for years to impose the adoption of a single charger on smartphones and tablets sold on the Old Continent market. In September 2021, the European Commission presented a first directive along these lines.
In June 2022 the provision was approved by the European Commission and by the European deputies and a few months later, precisely in October 2022, the European Parliament gave the final point confirming the definitive adoption of the project. This stipulates that all smartphones, tablets, e-readers, cameras, game consoles, headsets, wireless mice and keyboards, and GPS with a power rating of less than or equal to 100W must offer a USB-C port for charging by 2024.
However, one crucial element was missing: the official deadline. Well, the EU just released this essential information this Thursday 8th December 2022. Manufacturers will have until December 28, 2024 to comply. Note that the new European legislation on the adoption of USB-C has just been published in the Official Journal of the EU, which makes it formally binding.
Apple has until December 28, 2024 to integrate USB-C into its iPhones
In other words, it will enter into force in 20 days, while the various Member States will have a maximum of 24 months to apply it nationally. We also remember this this measure will extend to laptops from 2026. Be careful though, it should also be said that this rule will only apply to devices that offer cable charging. Those that only offer wireless charging aren’t affected.
While many smartphone manufacturers have already embraced USB-C, it obviously isn’t the case of Apple still using its proprietary Lightning technologyg. If we refer to the date set by the EU, the Apple brand will still be able to use Lightning until September 2024, the presumed release window of the iPhone 15.
However, we already know thanks to the revelations of renowned analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo that the Cupertino company is testing iPhones equipped with USB-C ports. In another article published on Bloomberg, the American company confirmed that the port change will not take place before 2023.
