Forget about rummaging through the trash can. Soon, we might just need a cable to charge our smartphones and other devices.
Officials in Europe have signed an interim agreement that will require all devices to use the same charging cable. It is part of a broader effort to make products sold in the European Union in 27 countries more sustainable and reduce e-waste, but the change could have a global impact.
Apple’s iPhones have used the Lightning connector to charge since the 2012 iPhone 5, though many of their iPads have moved to USB-C. Credit:
The new rules, which will come into force in mid-2024, mean that EU consumers will only have to use a common Type C USB cable for small and medium-sized rechargeable portable electronic devices. By extension, this means that all new smartphones and tablets must have USB-C plugs.
“European consumers were frustrated with the overcrowding of multiple chargers at home,” Alex Agius Saliba, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator, told a news conference in Brussels.
“Now, they will be able to go with a single charger for all portable electronic devices, which is an important step to increase consumer convenience.”
USB-C is standard on almost all portable devices, but there are notable drawbacks.
Beyond phones and tablets, covered devices also include electronic readers, headphones, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, portable video game consoles, keyboards and mice, portable speakers, and navigation devices.
Laptops are also covered, but manufacturers will have extra time to comply.
While manufacturers will only be required to supply USB-C sockets to the European single market, most are unlikely to produce different models for different parts of the world. Like strict EU privacy regulations, the USB-C rule could end up becoming a de facto standard for everyone.