By Cécile D. Posted October 4, 2022 at 12:42 pm
New standards and the end of a monopoly: the European Union requires the use of USB-C chargers for all electronic devices from the autumn of 2024. Apple will have to modify its products in order to continue marketing them in Europe.
And battery charger, it’s precious: it’s what keeps your phone or tablet from giving up the ghost, leaving you inactive during your 45 minutes of travel public transport. No question, therefore, of lending it to anyone, at the risk of never seeing it again. Yet getting a good charger for your device will soon no longer be a hassle: alautumn 2024all electronic device chargers should be universal, suitable for carrying USB-C.
On 7 June the European Parliament decided to impose the universal charger for smartphones, tablets, e-readers, headsets, consoles and digital cameras in the 27 member countries. Laptops have until spring 2026 to adapt to this standard. After some debate, the European Parliament and the Council finally adopted this measure on Tuesday 4 October 2022.
This law will primarily impact the brand Apple. The American giant was in fact very opposed, since it uses an exclusive technology, which allows it to impose its branded chargers on all its consumers. For most other electronics manufacturers, little change is to be expected, as the USB-C port is already widespread.
Will Apple therefore have to create special products for the European market, will it review all its products, plan to sell an additional adapter? The company has until 2024 to choose its strategy and adapt to these new regulations.
On Twitter, the European Commissioner Thierry Breton To explain : ” We have a joint charger agreement! More savings for European consumers, e less waste for the planet. Smartphones, tablets and cameras will now have USB-C. Fast charging technology will be harmonized, charger sales will be separated. The interest of the European Union prevailed. “
This regulation was therefore created to limit the production of toxic waste for the environment. We rate it 11,000 tons of waste they are produced every year due to the waste of unused magazines. A number that could be reduced by almost a thousand tons. This law also allows for the provision of new standards in order to regulate the technologies of wireless chargingmore and more popular.
“ Consumers will no longer need a different charging device and cable each time they buy a new device, they will be able to use a charger for all their small and medium sized electronic devices “, The Parliament justifies itself, quoted by our colleagues from 20 minutes.
The European Commission has calculated that the entry into force of this new law could be a source ofeconomy for citizens, who spend 2.4 billion euros per yearonly for the purchase of chargers.
