EU agrees single cell charging port in blow to Apple

The political intervention, which the European Fee mentioned would make life simpler for customers and save them cash, got here after corporations failed to achieve a standard answer.

Brussels has been pushing for a single cell charging port for greater than a decade, prompted by complaints from iPhone and Android customers about having to modify to completely different chargers for his or her units.

iPhones are charged from a Lightning cable, whereas Android-based units use USB-C connectors.

Half the chargers offered with cellphones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, whereas 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, in accordance with a 2019 Fee examine.

“By autumn 2024, USB Kind-C will turn into the frequent charging port for all cellphones, tablets and cameras within the EU,” the European Parliament mentioned in a press release.

EU business chief Thierry Breton mentioned the deal would save round 250 million euros ($267 million) for customers.

“It can additionally permit new applied sciences similar to wi-fi charging to emerge and to mature with out letting innovation turn into a supply of market fragmentation and client inconvenience,” he mentioned.

Apple, which has warned the proposal would damage innovation and create a mountain of digital waste, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

“We’re proud that laptops, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, pc mice, and moveable navigation units are additionally included,” mentioned lawmaker Alex Agius Saliba who steered the talk on the parliament.

Laptops should adjust to the laws inside 40 months of it coming into into power. The EU govt may have the facility in future to harmonise wi-fi charging programs.

The very fact the deal additionally covers e-readers, earbuds and different applied sciences will affect Samsung, Huawei and different machine makers.