The European Commission has ordered Apple to change the connector to a single charging port on iPhones sold in Europe by 2024.
“By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU,” the European Parliament said in a statement.
The European Commission said that the rule would make life easier for consumers and save them money.
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Deal Benefits
EU industry chief Thierry Breton said the deal would save about 250 million euros ($267 million) for consumers.
“It will also allow new technologies, such as wireless charging, to emerge and to mature without letting innovation become a source of market fragmentation and consumer inconvenience,” he said.
Consumer Complaints
Brussels has been pushing for a single mobile charging port for more than a decade after complaints from iPhone and Android users about having to switch to different chargers for their devices.
iPhones are charged from a Lightning cable, while Android-based devices use USB-C connectors.
Opportunity For Apple
Despite this setback, Apple’s shares were up 0.9% in morning trade in New York.
It could also generate more sales in 2024, encouraging more Europeans to buy the latest gadgets instead of ones without USB-C.
Consumers could be enticed into upgrading to a new phone sooner.
Apple is already working on an iPhone with a USB-C charging port that could debut next year, Bloomberg reported last month.
Other Devices Covered
The deal covers not only phones and laptops but also e-readers, earbuds and other technologies.
This would have an impact on Samsung , Huawei and other device makers, analysts said.
“We are proud that laptops, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, computer mice and portable navigation devices are also included,” said lawmaker Alex Agius Saliba, who steered the debate at the European Parliament
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