The European Parliament voted on Tuesday on a new law requiring all mobile phones, tablets, and cameras to use a “unified charger”.
What is the importance of the topic?
The measure, agreed tentatively by member states in June, aims to reduce e-waste and increase convenience for consumers.
Effects of law
The law requires all devices sold in the European Union to be equipped with “USB-C” charging ports by fall 2024 and will extend to laptops by spring 2026.
The decision will have a clear impact on manufacturers such as Apple, which has designed some of its devices, such as the iPhone, with unique chargers with a special slots.
Some current Apple tablets and laptops use a USB-C charger, as do some Android phones, according to Bloomberg.
The new rule will also apply to a range of other devices, such as video game consoles, consoles, portable speakers, and headphones.
Apple previously said the measure would weaken innovation and lead to more e-waste, Reuters reported.
The European Commission has estimated that the law will save consumers a total of 250 million euros a year “on non-essential shipper purchases”.
what are they saying?
“Co-Shipping will finally become a reality in Europe,” Alex Agios Saliba, MEP representing Malta, said in a press release.
“This futuristic law allows for innovative charging solutions to be developed in the future, and will benefit everyone, from frustrated consumers to our vulnerable environment.”
