By fall 2024, USB Type-C will be the common charging port for all small and medium portable electronics in the EU. This is how the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union decided today. The interim agreement is part of a broader EU goal to make products more sustainable, reduce electronic waste and make consumers’ lives easier.
According to the new rules, consumers will be able to use the same charger and charging cable when purchasing a new device. This means that mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, headphones, digital cameras, headsets, portable game consoles and speakers must be equipped with a type-c port, regardless of manufacturer. Laptops will also have to meet this requirement no later than 40 months after the law comes into force.
This measure mainly affects Apple, which uses the Lightning connector in its iPhones.
In addition, the charging speed will be harmonized for devices that support fast charging, so consumers can charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger. Buyers will also be able to choose to purchase new electronic equipment with or without a charge.
The new obligation should save consumers €250 million a year as more chargers can be reused. The environment should benefit too: Discarded and unused chargers are estimated to generate 11,000 tonnes of e-waste per year.
Source: EU
Source: Hardware Info
