The European Union has been telling gadget makers, including Apple, to prepare for a future where USB-C will be the one connector for all device charging. We now have a timeline that says all new portable devices that are sold within the EU must use USB-C for charging by the end of 2024. While this is largely seen as a positive move, it will not come without some challenges.
These new rules aren’t coming as any great surprise – they’ve been discussed for a couple of years. The EU’s goal is to reduce e-waste caused by proprietary cables being dumped when devices eventually die and to reduce consumer confusion when shopping for new charging cables. These are good things.
USB-C charging will become mandatory for laptops, cameras, mobile phones and other gadgets. laptop makers get until 2026 to be compliant. The 27 member nations of the EU came to a 602 to 13 vote in favour of the new law.
Apple is already a long way down the road to adopting USB-C as a universal charging solution. The only holdout in Apple’s product stable is the iPhone. Most of the rest of its product range can charge over USB-C. Even its laptops, which recently reintroduced the elegant MagSafe solution, can charge over USB-C.
It won’t be as easy as you think
The problem with USB-C is that it is a very flexible standard. And the power needs of a smartphone and a laptop are quite different. While a cable that works on a smartphone might only need to carry 20w of power, one for a laptop might need 90w or more. If you buy a cheap cable you may find it works fine for one device but is a hazard for others.
And if you expect the USB-C cable that you use for charging to work with a portable monitor, you may be in for a rude shock – something I recently wrote about. Here’s what the EU says:
Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.
European Parliament
The EU sassy new labelling rules will come into effect to help consumers make informed choices when it comes to purchasing charging accessories.
I’m also concerned for the future. What happens in a few years time when someone better than USB-C comes along? Will we be stuck with USB-C because of this law? Does this put a dampener on innovation when it comes to how we charge our devices?
The one thing I am certain of is that there will not be EU versions and Rest of the World versions of the iPhone. Apple will make the move at some point – unless it takes a different route.
Apple could simply skip power cables entirely
Apple adopted a version of MagSafe when it released the iPhone 12. This uses the Qi standard for wireless charging with the clever use of magnets to ensure the iPhone and charger are perfectly aligned to ensure that charging is optimised.
Could the iPhone 15 or 16 completely ditch external ports and simply move to 100% wireless charging?
One thing is certain. The days of the Lightning connector are numbered. It has been a worthy successor to the original 30-pin adaptor that came with the first iPhones and most of the early iPods (the very first iPod used a FireWire connector). But it’s time has come. But whether Apple joins in the USB-C chorus or sings its own wireless tune remains to be seen.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.
On an environmental level I can see why standardising on UCB-C is a good thing. Less e-waste is always a good thing. But USB-C is such a dog’s breakfast. As Atilla Vago* wrote recently, “ USB-C forces every customer to become a specs-hunting nerd if they want to buy the right cable.” and “ The only aspect USB-C standardises is the physical appearance of the plug, everything else is a heap of confusing tech-manure.” I agree. The great thing about the lightning connector is that it just works.
*Apple’s Love-Hate Relationship with USB-C Makes Sense, Atilla Vago, 31 Mat 2022.
100% agree. The only thing that is standard is the appearance of the connector. The confusion comes from USB-C supporting USB 2 connectivity, but only sometimes supporting video, or power at an expected wattage or some other vagary. This is worse than a dog’s breakfast. I think it’s more like dog’s vomit!