EU lawmakers have passed a law requiring Apple and other manufacturers to switch to USB-C.
Apple will be the biggest victim of the law, since it still makes its own Lightning cable. However, Apple could be working on a USB-C iPhone as it did with the MacBook and iPad.
By the end of 2024, new smartphones, tablets, headphones, cameras, speakers, etc., sold in the EU will have USB Type-C ports, and laptops will be required to have them by 2026.
With 602 votes in favour and 13 against and eight abstentions, the new law passed. It’s part of an EU-wide push to reduce e-waste. While Great Britain won’t have to follow suit, devices sold in Northern Ireland would be required to enforce the law due to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
European Parliament’s rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba said: “The common charger will finally become a reality in Europe. We have waited more than ten years for these rules, but we can finally leave the current plethora of chargers in the past.
“This future-proof law allows for the development of innovative charging solutions in the future, and it will benefit everyone – from frustrated consumers to our vulnerable environment.
“These are difficult times for politics, but we have shown that the EU has not run out of ideas or solutions to improve the lives of millions in Europe and inspire other parts of the world to follow suit”
