It is now official. The EU has passed a proposal which forces Apple to leave its lightning cables behind and switch to what will become the new industry standard.
It is a big win in the fight against electrical waste now that the EU has reached an agreement on legislation that forces all smartphones sold within the EU to use the USB-C port for charging the mobile phone.
This legislation also applies to cameras and tablets.
The legislation comes into force in autumn 2024 and the goal of the new rules is to make products within the EU more sustainable, reduce electrical waste and make consumers' lives easier.
Apple is forced away from its lightning cables within the EU
The new rules also mean that there will no longer be any lightning cables for the iPhone in the future!
Now all consumers will be able to use one and the same cable regardless of mobile phone. It's a win for both the environment and the consumer!
We conclude with a quote from Alex Agius Saliba :
Today we have made the common charger a reality in Europe! European consumers were frustrated for a long time with multiple chargers piling up with every new device. Now they will be able to use a single charger for all their portable electronics. We are proud that laptops, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, computer mice, and portable navigation devices are also included in addition to smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers. We have also added provisions on wireless charging being the next evolution in the charging technology and improved information and labeling for consumers.
