The European Union (EU) is adopting a new law mandating phone makers, including Apple, to adopt USB-C connectors starting 2024. This new law increased the pressure on the iPhone maker to make the switch from lightning to USB-C connectors.
Over the past years, consumers have been making demands for Apple to change the iPhone's charging port from lightning to USB-C. Likewise, there has been a regulatory push on the matter.
Finally, as the European Parliament voted in favor of the legislation on the change of port to USB-C earlier this month, Apple has no other choice but to do the switch, according to TechCrunch.
Apple Will Comply with EU's Law, Exec Says
On Tuesday, Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior Vice President of marketing confirmed that the company will do the switch in compliance with EU's ruling, as per The Verge.
"Obviously, we'll have to comply. We have no choice as we do around the world but to comply to local laws," Joswiak said at the Wall Street Journal Tech Live conference.
On Monday, ministers from states who are member of the EU issued their final approval to the common charger law.
The law mandates that starting 2024, electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets will need to support USB-C charging.
The law, which was 10 years in the making, was finally stamped approved by the European Council after other EU legislative bodies voted in favor of it, as per CNBC.
While in the past, Apple's iPhone only uses the lightning charger, the iPhone maker would now have to support the USB-C charging under the new EU law.
While Apple's senior Vice President of marketing did not issue a statement when the company would start introducing USB-C to its smartphone, it would have to start in 2024.
Read Also: India Follows EU in Mandating Universal Standard Charger, Might Force Apple to Adopt USB-C on iPhone
Other Countries Want to Follow EU's Step in Adopting a Common Connector Law
Previously, analysts already predicted that iPhones which are scheduled to be released in 2023 could possibly have a USB-C charging port. The analysts also predicted that the company could possibly introduce it globally.
According to the EU lawmakers, the common charger law will reduce wastage since consumers no longer need to get a new charger each time they buy a new device.
This is seen as environmental friendly as it will reduce production and the disposal of new chargers.
According to Joswiak, one of the concerns of EU was the fact that people had to have several adapters with different connectors. He said that to address this, Apple decided to have detachable cables in order for people to easily do the switch.
Because of this, over a billion people were able to keep on using their lightning cables instead of throwing them out, according to the Apple executive.
Currently, there are other countries pushing for a common charger for mobile phones. Brazil and India are also considering to adopt a common connector rule.
In the US, Democratic senators including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ed Markey sent an open letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in June. The senators are pushing for the country to follow the EU's steps.
Related Article: Apple Will Install USB-C Ports to Future iPhones and Other iOS Devices, Analyst Says
