Apple's iphones will have to be replaced by USB-C ports by the end of 2024 after the European Union passed legislation mandating a common charging port
Oct 26, 2022| Apple's iphones will have to be replaced by USB-C ports by the end of 2024 after the European Union passed legislation mandating a common charging port
Yesterday, the European Union gave final approval to legislation that would force tech companies like Apple to switch to USB-C for a variety of devices, according to Macrumors.
As outlined in an official press release, the European Council approved the European Parliament's Common Charger Directive, finalizing the legislative process that will make USB-C ports mandatory in various consumer electronic devices, including iphones and AirPods, by the end of 2024. The directive has now been formally adopted and will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will take effect 20 days after publication, and the rules will take effect 24 months after that date. Products that started selling before the application date will be exempt and can continue selling after that date.
In addition, to let consumers know exactly what they are buying, the new rules introduce an icon specifying whether a new device comes with a charger and a label indicating charging performance. The new rules also allow consumers to choose whether to buy new devices with or without chargers, which will not only save them money but also reduce e-waste associated with the production, transportation and disposal of chargers. Four years after the new rules take effect, the commission will evaluate whether such sales bundling should be mandatory.
It's worth noting that both Skywind analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman say Apple is testing an iPhone with USB-C instead of Lightning Kuo believes that Apple will switch to USB-C for the iPhone starting with the 2023 iPhone 15 line, before transitioning to AirPods and beyond
