The era of the Apple Lightning Cable is coming to an end and European countries have agreed on a single charging port for mobile phones, tablets and cameras.
On Tuesday, the European Commission announced the decision to adopt a common charging port in the EU to make life easier for consumers and save money.
“By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will be a common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU,” the European Parliament said in a statement.
Apple should replace the Lightning connector on iPhones sold in Europe by 2024.
This is the world’s first political intervention because tech companies failed to come up with a common solution.
European lawmakers have been calling for the creation of a single mobile charging port for more than a decade after receiving complaints from iPhone and Android users about switching devices to different chargers.
The iPhone uses a Lightning cable, while Android-based devices use a USB-C connector.
According to a survey by the European Commission, in 2019, half of all mobile phone chargers sold had a USB micro-B connector, 29% had a USB-C connector, and 21% had a Lightning connector.
Thierry Breton, head of the EU industry, said the deal would save consumers around 250 million euros ($3.213 billion).
“It also allows new technologies, such as wireless charging, to emerge and mature, ensuring that innovation does not lead to market fragmentation or inconvenience the user,” he said.
Apple warns that the proposal will undermine innovation and create an e-waste pile.
The transaction includes not only phones, but also e-readers, headsets, laptops, keyboards, computer mice, and other technology. This means that companies like Samsung and Huawei are also affected.
Laptops must comply with the law within 40 months of its entry into force. EU executives have the right to harmonize wireless charging systems in the future.
Just 10 years later, Apple users had to start the company and transfer the charger cable from the old 30-pin connector to the Lightning port, which debuted in 2012.
Under the new law, the tech giants are forced to replace the iPhone charging cable again.
Source: Metro
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