USB-C Port Adoption Will Be Carried Over to Laptops Too, and All Manufacturers Will Have to Abide by the Agreement, Including Apple
The European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection announced through a press release that it has reached an agreement to introduce a law to make USB-C the common charging port across a large number of consumer electronics by fall 2024. This will include Apple’s iPhone and AirPods range. Several of the company’s iPad family already use USB-C, with the exception of the low-cost versions, but it looks like Apple’s tablet range will have to transition to the new port too completely. The EU is also looking to ensure that wireless charging solutions are interoperable as technology evolves with time. For Apple, the forceful adoption of USB-C on future iPhones and AirPods means that the California-based giant will no longer be using proprietary charging tech, meaning it will not be collecting royalties from manufacturers who make various accessories that specifically use the Lightning port. While this means a revenue stream will be blocked entirely as a result of this law, it does not necessarily apply to all markets. Apple could simply ship iPhones and AirPods with USB-C ports to regions that fall under the European Union while the rest of the world continues to receive devices with Lightning inputs. Also, the latest legislation needs to be approved by the European Parliament and European Council later this year. It will come into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal, with the changes expected to be applied to a wide range of devices after 24 months. Switching to a single port solution will mean there is less dependency on other interfaces, negating the need to carry different cables. It will also result in reduced electronic waste, which will always benefit the environment. Do you think this is the right decision as we advance? Tell us down in the comments. News Source: European Parliament
