Currently, almost all premium Android phones come with a USB-C connector except for the iPhone. Apple’s iPhones use a proprietary charging cable and port. Called Lightning connectors, these work exclusively with Apple devices.
Though Apple has adopted USB-C for some of its devices including laptops and tablets, the iPhones are still stuck with the Lightning cable and port.
But all this could be coming to an end!
European regulators are hoping to force Apple to switch from its proprietary Lightning cables and ports to the universal standard USB-C from 2022.
According to a new rule proposed by the European Commission (EC), all device manufacturers will be required to have a common charging port for mobile phones, tablets, and headphones.
The rule intends to cut down on electronic waste and improve consumers’ convenience by allowing people to use their standard chargers when they buy new devices. EU officials say that they want to cut down on the 11,000 metric tons of electronic waste thrown out every year by Europeans.
The proposal to have the biggest impact on Apple
Apple has long resisted the EU’s plan for a unified standard for charging cables. But the recent push by the EU will surely be cheered by many of us who have long struggled to understand why these cables are not standardized.
The new rules would give Apple and other smartphone competitors two years to switch to USB-C.
