The European Union (EU) is currently working on the proposal ‘Let’s use a uniform charging port on phones’, which it has been working on for 10 years.
European Commission Inter-Agency Relations Officer Maros Sefcovic said that a universal charger to be used in all mobile devices will be effective in reducing electronic waste and make customers’ use of technology more convenient.
The European Commission points out that these parts cause around 12 thousand tons of waste every year across the EU.
Green light from the European Parliament
According to the news in AA, the European Parliament (EP) supported the legal regulation that will make it mandatory to use USB-C charging ports in electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and cameras sold in European Union (EU) countries.
MEPs approved the document that sets the negotiating position on the arrangement, which envisages a common charging port.
According to the document, USB-C will be the new standard charging port in portable electronics.
Devices such as smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, portable video game consoles, speakers will have USB-C charging ports. Thus, a single charger can be used in various electronic devices.
Small devices such as smart watches, wristbands and health equipment will be exempt from the said USB-C port rule.
The final version of the regulation will be evaluated
After this stage, the EP and the European Council will negotiate the final version of the regulation.
Apple vs. one-size-fits-all chargers
As a matter of fact, using a single type of charger does not affect android smartphone manufacturers much. Because many phones that are currently on the market use USB Type-C connection. However, Apple prefers a charging port called Lightning in its iPhone models.
Apple is trying to curb the change, arguing that the regulation will freeze rather than spur innovation, render the devices of millions of Europeans obsolete, and create an unprecedented volume of electronic waste.
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