The EU Parliament has approved a new law, according to which from the end of 2024 USB-C will have to be the single charging standard for all new smartphones, tablets and cameras.
The measure, which EU lawmakers approved with 602 votes to 13, will force Apple, at least in Europe, to ditch the old Lightning port on its iPhones and replace it with USB-C.
Laptop manufacturers will have more time, starting in early 2026, to follow suit.
EU politicians say the single charger rule will make life easier for Europeans, reduce the mountain of outdated chargers and cut costs for consumers.
It is expected to save at least € 200 million ($ 195 million) annually and reduce e-waste by more than a thousand tonnes in the EU every year, competition chief Margrethe Vestager said.
This move by the EU is expected to reverberate around the world.
450 million people live in the 27 countries of the European Union, which are some of the richest consumers in the world. Regulatory changes in the bloc often set global industry norms within the so-called Brussels Effect.
“Today is a great day for consumers, a great day for our environment,” said Maltese MEP Alex Agius Saliba, head of the European Parliament on this issue.
“After more than a decade, a single charger for multiple electronic devices will finally become a reality for Europe and I hope we can inspire the rest of the world,” he said.
Apple, the second largest smartphone seller in the world after Samsung, already uses USB-C ports to charge its iPads and laptops.
But he opposed EU legislation to force a change to the Lightning ports on his iPhones, saying it was disproportionate and would stifle innovation.
However, some users of the latest flagship iPhone models complain that the Lightning cable transfers data at a fraction of the speed of USB-C.
In two years’ time, EU legislation will apply to all portable mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, portable speakers, portable video game consoles, e-readers, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems.
