EU Adopts Law Requiring Universal USB-C Phone Chargers By 2024

What’s happening

The European Parliament has adopted a law making USB-C charging mandatory on phones and other small devices by 2024.

Why it matters

The law is designed to reduce electronic waste and allow people to shop for tech more sustainably. But it will also force Apple — one of the few phone makers to resist adopting USB-C — to finally get rid of lightning ports on the iPhone, at least in Europe.

What’s next

Tech companies now have well over a year to ensure they’re complying with the new rules. Most already do use USB-C, so all eyes will be firmly fixed on Apple to see how the company adapts.

It looks like the lightning cable’s days are numbered — in Europe at least.

The European Parliament passed a long-awaited law on Tuesday demanding that by 2024 all phone makers must be compatible with a universal charger. And the one charging technology to rule them all has been identified as USB-C.

Establishing a rule around a common charger has been in the works now for ten years, but the EU only finalized the legislation in June. In Tuesday’s vote, members of the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the rule, with 602 votes for, 13 against and 8 abstentions.

The law will apply not only to phones, but also to tablets, digital cameras, headphones, handheld consoles and most other small devices. From spring 2026 the law will also apply to laptops. The idea behind the legislation is to reduce the amount of electronic waste the tech industry generates and help people make more sustainable choices.

That means finally saying goodbye to that drawer full of mystery, proprietary charging cables and instead trusting that whatever device you buy, you’ll always be able to use USB-C. As part of the new rules, buyers will be able to choose whether or not their new device comes with or without a charging cable. “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,” said Alex Agius Saliba, the Parliament’s rapporteur in a statement.

Most tech companies have already adopted USB-C as a standard charger — but Apple is one notable exception. From 2024, at least in Europe, it will have no choice to make iPhones USB-C compatible. Due to the complexity of manufacturing different phones for different markets, it’s highly possible that the new law may force Apple’s hand and mean that USB-C also becomes the standard on iPhones everywhere.

We already know that Apple has reportedly been testing iPhones with USB-C, but there are some suggestions that the company’s ideal solution would be to rely totally on wireless charging, with no ports on the iPhone at all. There are arguments both in favor of and against this approach, but it could ultimately be determined by what the law requires rather than what Apple wants. Apple didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.

There are still several steps in the EU legislative process that need to take place before the law finally kicks in, but at this stage these are largely a formality.

The 2024 deadline gives tech companies everywhere over a year to adapt to the new law.

Right now, it’s Apple’s move.

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