A new rule proposed by the European Commission (EC) forces all smartphone manufacturers to include a universal charging solution for phones and small electronic devices. The proposal said that all smartphones sold in the EU must have USB-C chargers.
The primary aim of the proposal is to encourage consumers to re-use existing chargers even after buying a new device.
If the proposal is accepted, manufacturers will get 24 months to comply with the new rules. The parliament has already voted in favor of new rules on a common charger back in 2020. This proposal aims to reduce electronic waste.
Most of the manufacturers now use USB-C on their devices. The proposal will mainly affect Apple that still uses Lightning port iPhone. Apple has warned such a move would harm innovation.
As of 2018, around 29% of smartphones charges sold in EU were USB-C and 21% were Lightning. Close to 50% were Micro USB standard. Micro USB standard still accounts big because most speakers, cameras and other electronic devices have yet to switch to Type-C.
The proposal basically mandates USB-C for devices that are charged using a cable. If a device also supports wireless charging, there won’t be a requirement for a USB-C charging port. If this is true, Apple can still get away from this.
The rule applies to all kinds of devices including smartphones tablets, headphones, portable speakers, videogame consoles, and cameras. The proposal also forces manufacturers to make fast-charging standards interoperable and provide clear information too customers.
