USB Type-C Port Will Become Mandatory In European Union Countries, Forcing Apple To Bring USB C To iPhones

The European Parliament has officially approved the provision to have USB Type-C ports across all mobile devices including smartphones, laptops, cameras, and more. The law will enforce device manufacturers to stick to one standard of ports that are used for charging and connecting accessories. 

Earlier this year, the EU had reached a provisional agreement to have the USB Type-C standard mandatory for all smartphones from 2024. It has now turned it into a law, making it mandatory for all mobile phones, tablets, cameras, and laptops sold in Europe to feature the USB Type-C port by the end of 2024. Laptops will have to compulsorily offer USB-C charging from Spring 2026. 

The law also specifically mentions that other devices that require wired charging need to have USB Type-C ports. These include handheld gaming consoles, headphones, portable speakers, ebook readers, keyboards, mice, GPS devices, and earbuds. This will effectively do away with micro-USB or any other proprietary charging standard like the Lightning port on iPhones. 

The good news is that a majority of smartphones in the Android ecosystem have already switched to USB Type-C for quite some time now. However, Apple has famously held on, sticking to its proprietary charging standard for iPhones. However, the new law will force Apple to also adopt the USB-C charging standard as well. Rumours are already rife that the 2023 iPhone 15 will feature the USB-C port. 

The EU law also prescribes that all devices that support fast charging will now have the same charging speeds. A more detailed explanation of the provision reveals that device makers will have to adopt the USB-PD standard for charging speeds above 15W. 

The new law will also help European users navigate a complicated world of charging standards. New devices will have to come with labels detailing charging characteristics to help users know if their existing chargers will be compatible. The law also extends to wireless charging, calling for a common wireless charging standard by the end of 2024.