Will usb-c be the only charger for phones in the EU in 2024?

The European Commission is today presenting a bill that will enforce a universal charger for smartphones sold in the European Union. USB-C is expected to become the standard, but member states must first agree on the proposal.

Universal charger in the EU

It has been talked about for years, but now the plan for a universal charger is really getting closer. In 2018, the EU already conducted research into the potential benefits of a universal phone charger. The verdict followed two years ago: such a charger is more convenient for the consumer and it helps to reduce the amount of electronic waste.

Today the European Commission is proposing a bill introducing the universal charger in the EU. An anonymous source reported this to Reuters. The Commission opts for usb-c as standard, because it is technically the best.

By 2024

According to a study conducted by the European Commission in 2018, half of the phones sold came with a micro USB port. At the time, 29 percent used USB-C and 21 percent had a Lightning port. Yet the use of usb-c has been on the rise for years, and we also see the port in budget telephones.

Apple has been using USB-C for its iPads and MacBooks for some time, but iPhones still appear with Lightning. The company of CEO Tim Cook is therefore the biggest opponent of a universal standard. As soon as the bill is submitted, the European member states will have to agree again in parliament. If successful, the new standard will be introduced by 2024.