The EU member states and parliament on Tuesday agreed the text of a law imposing a standard charger for smartphones and tablets sold in the bloc, in a blow to Apple. For most portable devices the requirement for charging via a USB Type-C port will come into effect from late 2024, the European Parliament's press service said.
The EU believes a standard cable for all devices will cut back on electronic waste, but iPhone juggernaut Apple argues that a one-size-fits-all charger would slow innovation and create more pollution.
"Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different device and cable for charging whenever they buy a new device, as they will be able to use one charger for all their small and medium-sized portable electronic devices," the European Parliament said in a statement.
The statement added that “mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earphones, helmets, digital cameras, portable video game consoles and portable speakers, if they are rechargeable by wire, should be equipped by the fall of 2024 with a “USB” type USB port. C, regardless of the manufacturer.
Similar requirements are expected for laptops "within 40 months of the text's entry into force", that is, by 2026.