EU imposes single charger for all smartphones

Dawn ^ | 5th October 2022 | AFP

[Cronos]

The EU parliament on Tuesday passed a new law requiring USB-C to be the single charger standard for all new smartphones, tablets and cameras from late 2024.

The measure, which EU lawmakers adopted with a vote 602 in favour, 13 against, will — in Europe at least — push Apple to drop its outdated Lightning port on its iPhones for the USB-C one already used by many of its competitors. Makers of laptops will have extra time, from early 2026, to also follow suit.

EU policymakers say the single charger rule will simplify the life of Europeans, reduce the mountain of obsolete chargers and reduce costs for consumers.

It is expected to save at least 200 million euros ($195m) per year and cut more than a thousand tonnes of EU electronic waste every year, the bloc’s competition chief Margrethe Vestager said.

The EU move is expected to ripple around the world.

The European Union’s 27 countries are home to 450 million people who count among the world’s wealthiest consumers. Regulatory changes in the bloc often set global industry norms in what is known as the Brussels Effect.

“Today is a great day for consumers, a great day for our environment,” Maltese MEP Alex Agius Saliba, the European Parliament’s pointman on the issue, said.

“After more than a decade, the single charger for multiple electronic devices will finally become a reality for Europe and hopefully we can also inspire the rest of the world,” he said.

[GOPJ]

In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie. One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them; In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.

An idea whose time has come...

[ChuckHam]

All those applauding this will be so happy when you have a standard car/house/food etc. that government allows you to have if they feel like it. But hey, it’s standard.

[usconservative]

Why not just let the free market work this out?

Two reasons:

1. Governments don't give a rats ass about free markets;
2. Consumers are too stupid to go to Amazon or a plethora of other places and find cheap adapters so they can in fact use a single charger, if they so choose to.

The above, and Governments believe people need to see them "doing something" to make their lives easier, all other issues be damned.

It's so stupid, and yet, that's why.

[woodbutcher1963]

Don't be ridiculous. This law actually makes sense. Apple was all about screwing their customers for things like this. You had to buy their charger that would only work with their phone. Another reason why I have never owned any Apple phones.

This law is similar to the one the EU put in to standardize the plugs for charging EVs. Unlike here in the US where there are multiple plugs configurations to charge an electric car.

[bert]

You are wrong

No special charger is needed for an I phone

[glorgau]

The Lightning port i getting very long in the tooth. Its data transfer rate is glacial compared to the usb-c port.

[woodbutcher1963]

“push Apple to drop its outdated Lightning port on its iPhones”

Isn’t this what the article states? That I Phones use a different charging port than other smart phones. Hence, the EU passed a law standardizing ONE charging port to be sold in the future.

I did not mean the actual charger. I was referring to the charging port.

[Cronos]

That is reductio ad absurdum.

[dfwgator]

Freedom From Choice, Is What You Want - DEVO

[SamAdams76]

You are correct in that it will be more convenient in the short term but it will definitely stifle innovation in the long term.

Manufacturers will not be motivated to improve the charging capability of their phones because they are now forced to maintain this USB-C standard.

Europeans will be using this ten years from now even if new technologies will enable charging a phone in the fraction of the time it takes today.

Below is the iPhone charger for the first generation iPhone. Imagine trying to use that today to charge your iPhone 14?

In fact, an iPhone 14 might not be possible if we still had to rely on that older charging technology.

[cuban leaf]

Several of them are 12 volt 1 amp or greater and can be used to power LED’s. :)

[BenLurkin]

Out of control government.

[laplata]

“So Germany industry will have higher costs or will stop, but no one is going to freeze”

That is not a pretty picture.

[Cronos]

This particular rule really helps the consumer.

[Cronos]

Well some people like Apple stuff. I don’t.

I’m pretty happy with Linux at home, Microsort office at work and android on my Samsung tablet/phone

[Cronos]

It’s not a pretty picture that no one will freeze??!?!

[laplata]

The overall situation is not a pretty picture.

You’re trying to put a Smiley Face on it.

[cyclotic]

Government keeping their paws off of commerce is what helps the consumer.

[Toughluck_freeper]

How can a government impose this?

This is communism with its central planning

and just as bad as imposing only Electric Vehicles in CA after 2030.

The world has gone to madness.

[Rocco DiPippo]

Choice between paying a ~$2000 bimonthly residential utility bill ( when a year ago the cost was~$500) or shivering or cutting back on other necessities.. Those are a few of the terrible choices millions of northern Europeans will face this winter. Will people literally freeze to death because of this outrage? Not likely, though some pensioners without loved ones to look after them might. But the massive impact of these cost increases are going to continue destroying businesses and the lives of the "little" people. Barring a miracle, that's inevitable at this point.

It's now getting crazy in the UK because of the insane energy prices - chainsaw sales are through the roof as are wood stove sales. Folks who've never done so before think they're going to simply hike into the woods, cut down trees and use the wood for heat this year - no seasoning required! Not a freaking clue.

I live in Sicily - bought a small woodstove for my upstairs bathroom in June. I paid $164 delivered via Amazon. It's excellent quality but basic and not exactly a "looker." A month later the price for the same stove jumped to $375. I checked the price today - no longer available. . .