European Union has decreed the European Parliament’s common charger directive. This mandates the USB-C charging port for a wide range of electronics, including the iPhones and AirPods, by the end of 2024. The European Council’s decision was revealed through press release.
The directive is officially adopted and will soon publish in the European Union's official journal; and will come into force after 20 days of publication, and the rules will apply precisely after 24 months. Products that go on sale before the date of application can continue to sell after that point.
USB-C as a legally mandated "common port" is a world-first statute and will likely impact Apple since it uses the Lightning connector instead of USB-C on many devices. However, MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) claim that the strategy will reduce electronic waste, address product sustainability, and ease the use of different devices.
According to the mandate, all the latest mobile phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, earbuds, laptops, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, and other devices that use a wired cable with charging support of up to 100 Watts, will have to feature a USB-C port. The devices too small to feature a USB-C port, like smartwatches, can overlook the mandate. However, the legislation will expand to other devices soon.
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