To comply with new regulations introducing a single charging port for most electronic devices starting in the fall of 2024, Apple will need to change the charger for its iPhones in the European Union.
The reform, which was passed by a resounding majority on Tuesday in the European Parliament and is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, may strengthen the EU’s position as a leader in setting international standards for telecommunications technology. The vote upheld an earlier understanding between EU institutions.
The new regulations will force Apple to modify its charging port for iPhones and other devices because the USB-C connectors used by Android-based devices will become the norm across the 27-nation bloc.
Although many already use USB-C, it will also apply to laptops starting in 2026, giving manufacturers more time to adapt.
Although analysts claim the impact could be favorable if it encourages consumers to purchase the American company’s new devices rather than those without USB-C, Apple is anticipated to be the most impacted of the major suppliers of electronic devices to European consumers.
Following the vote on Tuesday, shares of European semiconductor producers rose, including those of STMicro and Infineon, two suppliers to Apple.
According to analysts, the agreement may also have an effect on Samsung, Huawei, and other device manufacturers since it also covers e-readers, earbuds, and other technologies.
According to the reform, mobile phones and other devices sold after the fall of 2024 must work with the single charger, according to EU lawmaker Alex Agius Saliba, who helped guide the reform through the EU assembly. But customers will still be able to use older models because old chargers won’t be banned.
Due to the size of the EU market, the new regulations may result in changes in other nations.
While Saliba noted that outlawing old chargers would have had a significant negative effect on consumers and the environment, the change is anticipated to result in a gradual phase-out of older products.
By the fall of 2024, 13 different categories of electronic devices will need to change.
The original EU executive Commission proposal, which only covered seven different types of devices, was expanded by the Parliament. The legislature also added laptops starting in 2026.
As a result of concerns from iPhone and Android users who had to move to various chargers for their devices, the change had been considered for years.
According to an estimate by the European Commission, customers may save roughly 250 million euros ($247.3 million) with just one charger.
A 2019 Commission study found that 29% of chargers sold with mobile phones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 21% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, which is used by Apple.
Legislators have also asked the Commission to examine potential regulations for wireless charging, but an EU official indicated that no decision has yet been taken because the technology is still in its infancy.
