Single Charger For All Smartphones In EU

Web Desk — On Tuesday, the EU parliament passed a law requiring USB-C to become the standard charger for all new smartphones, tablets, and cameras starting in late 2024.

With 602 votes in favor and 13 against, the EU lawmakers adopted the measure, which at least in Europe will force Apple to ditch its outdated Lightning port for the USB-C one.
Laptop makers will also have extra time to follow suit, starting in early 2026.
Consumers will save money and simplify their lives by using only one charger, say EU policymakers.

Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition chief, said it is expected to save at least 200 million euros ($195 million) per year and reduce more than a thousand tonnes of electronic waste annually. The EU move is expected to ripple around the world.

There are 450 million people living in the 27 countries of the European Union, making them among the wealthiest consumers in the world. In what is known as the Brussels Effect, regulatory changes within the bloc often set global industry norms.
The European Parliament’s pointman on the issue, Maltese MEP Alex Agius Saliba, said: “Today is a great day for consumers, a great day for our environment.”

The single charger for multiple electronic devices will finally become a reality for Europe and hopefully inspire the rest of the world, he said.