The European Parliament on Tuesday passed a new law requiring USB-C to be the single charger standard for all new smartphones, tablets, and cameras from late 2024.
The measure, which EU lawmakers adopted, wants to push Apple to drop its outdated Lightning port on its iPhones for the USB-C one already used by many of its competitors.
While makers of laptops will have extra time, to also follow suit from 2026.
The bloc’s competition chief Margrethe Vestager said it is expected to save at least 200 million euros ($195 million) per year and cut more than a thousand tonnes of EU electronic waste every year.
The EU move is expected to ripple around the world.
Apple the world’s second-biggest seller of smartphones after Samsung, already uses USB-C charging ports on its iPads and laptops.
But the company has resisted EU’s legislation to force a change away from its Lightning ports on iPhones, saying that it was disproportionate and would stifle innovation.
The EU law will in two years’ time apply to all handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems.
FRCN AbujaTersoo Nicholas
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