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In January 2020, Members of the European Parliament voted to establish a universal charging connection for smartphones sold in the EU. Since then, we have been waiting for this effort to be adopted as law, and since this morning, it is one more step. The European Commission has now proposed legislation that would establish USB-C as a common charger for mobile devices, finally demanding a universal standard, regardless of the smartphone.
The EU’s reasoning behind this potential requirement boils down to two things: e-waste and convenience. Tech products that spill over into landfills are a serious problem, and reducing the number of cords needed by an average consumer could help address this. It would also decouple chargers from the inclusion of every new smartphone, a decision already made by manufacturers like Samsung and Google. In a practical sense, this law could simplify the way EU residents charge their devices. The days of your iPhone carrying friend rummaging in a closet to find a compatible cable for your Galaxy S21 may finally be over.
Are your magazines piling up in a drawer?
We offer a common charger for cell phones and other similar electronic devices.
A single charger will be more convenient for people and reduce electronic waste.
Read more: https://t.co/hkspfjwlhu #DigitalEU pic.twitter.com/ZhWZ8xSGKH
– European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) September 23, 2021
Of course, that brings us to the elephant in the room. Most smartphone makers have already made the switch to USB-C, with the iPhone more or less being the last hurdle. This leaves Apple as the only large company potentially affected by this legislation. If this bill is enacted, Apple would have 24 months to switch to USB-C on its devices. Considering that MacBooks and most iPads currently charge via USB-C, this is a change that shouldn’t be too difficult.
However, even if this legislation takes effect, Apple can still avoid switching to USB-C on its line of smartphones. A portless iPhone has been rumored for years now, the next natural step after the headphone jack was removed in 2016. An EU spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that a USB-C port does not would only be required for devices that charge with a cable. . If Apple produced an iPhone 14 (or 15 or 16) without a port, it wouldn’t fall under these rules.
For its part, Apple made the following statement to Reuters on this morning’s news:
“We remain concerned that strict regulations requiring only one type of connector stifle innovation rather than encourage it, which in turn will hurt consumers in Europe and globally.”
These regulations wouldn’t change much for most Android users. Companies already leave chargers out of the box, and USB-C is available on virtually every known device. Outside of the Apple lineup, we’ve more or less achieved a world that fits the EU’s goals. The proposed legislation does, however, cover a universal standard for fast charging – a nice consolidation price for when Apple manages to pull itself out of upgrading its phones to USB-C again.
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