USB-C becomes definitive standard for charging cables
The European Parliament has reached agreement on the use of a (new) standard for charging cables. Finally, USB Type-C, usually abbreviated USB-C, will now become the definitive standard.
USB-C becomes mandatory
It’s been in the air for years and now it’s finally final; the European Parliament has voted to make USB-C mandatory for small electronic devices. Many manufacturers, mainly with Android, all use USB-C, although here and there we find a Micro-USB connection in products. Apple has been opting for its own standard for years, and that is the Lightning connection. For that reason, Apple is also against the law. However, Apple will also have to believe this.
The new regulations will come into effect in the autumn of 2024 and will apply to a large product group. This concerns (newly released) smartphones, tablets and cameras, as well as various other devices such as earbuds/earbuds, a keyboard, mouse, headphones, e-reader and navigation system. In the year 2026, USB-C should also be mandatory on laptops. Incidentally, an exception applies to products that can only be charged wirelessly, the European Parliament reports.
During the vote in the European Parliament, 602 voted in favor of the law, 13 against the law and 8 abstained. With the new legislation, users must always be able to charge their devices with the same cable. This should contribute to reducing the electrical waste mountain. Every year there is 11,000 electronic waste in the EU due to discarded chargers and cables. According to the EU, manufacturers must offer the choice whether consumers want to purchase the product with or without an adapter.
