EU Reaches Agreement to Force iPhone and AirPods to Adopt USB-C by Fall 2024

The European Union has reached a landmark agreement to force a wide range of consumer electronics, including the iPhone and AirPods, to feature ausb-c port for charging.

In a press release, the European Parliament's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection announced that it has reached an agreement to introduce a law to make the common charging port across a large number of consumer electronic devices.

All new phones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, and portable speakers that are sold in Europe will be required to have a USB-C port. The legislation will be expanded to other devices over time, but only if the device is too small to offer ausb-c port.

This "common port" would be the first of its kind and would have an impact on Apple since it is widely used in its devices. The move will make use of different devices more convenient.

Ensuring that wireless charging solutions are compatible is one of the things the EU is trying to do. The new directive would allow the European Commission to develop delegated acts that would force companies to make their wireless charging solutions more open and meet interoperability standards. It's not clear if this would include Apple's MagSafe charging system, which is based on the wireless charging standard.

The European Commission tried to reach a final resolution on the issue but it didn't become law. As consumers were forced to switch to new cables, Apple warned that forcing a common charging port on the industry would stifle innovation. A refreshed version of the directive was spearheaded by the European Commission. The directive was supported by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee with 43 votes in favor and two against.

The European Parliament and European Council need to approve the legislation. The provisions will apply to new devices after 24 months after they are published in the EU official journal.

Apple is testing a version of the phone that doesn't have a lightning port, according to two analysts. It's believed that Apple could switch the phone to theusb-c before the AirPods and other accessories are ready. Ahead of the EU directive coming into force, Apple would be able to switch its devices tousb-c.

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