The European Union has determined that from 2024 all smartphones that are marketed in the old continent must have as standard the USB-C connector, Apple would be one of the companies in which the measure would impact the most because it is one of the best-selling brands of smartphones because it has proprietary connections (Lightning) in its iPhones.
In the case of Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo, Vivo or Motorola the implementation problem would be less since most use the USB-C connector as standard.
Although there is still no reaction from Apple, in various discussion forums the Cupertino firm issued positions against considering that the standardization of USB-C “stifles innovation”.
Alex Agius Saliba, rapporteur of the European Union referred to the particular case of the company founded by Steve Jobs:
“Within two years, if Apple wants to sell its products in our domestic market it must comply with our rules and its devices must have the USB-C connector”
He testified at a press conference.
The measure will not only apply to cell phones, it will also be implemented in tablets, e-readers, digital cameras, headphones, keyboards, mice, portable video game consoles, speakers and even laptops, although in the case of the latter they will have extra time for their implementation.
With this last point, the new MacBook would also suffer affections, since some have Magsafe charging.
The standardization of USB-C still has to be ratified by the European Parliament and Council before the end of 2022 and is expected to be endorsed without problems because the main objective of this is to reduce electronic waste and avoid the purchase of unnecessary accessories.
It will be in autumn 2024 when this provision comes into force as a grace period has been granted to the manufacturers to be defined.
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Currently there are reports that Apple is conducting tests to incorporate the USB-C connector in its iPhone which would arrive in 2023 particularly to the iPhone since the iPad and Macbook of various ranges already use USB-C connectors.
However, there are also rumors that Apple would avoid taking this measure by creating an iPhone that only charged wirelessly, since the law indicates that the adoption of USB-C would only apply to devices that are recharged with cable, which would leave a small legal vacuum.
