In setback for Apple, EU agrees on common charging port deal

Phones and tablet makers will have to comply with new rules by September 2024

All smartphones and tablets would have to use a common charger under a provisional European Union agreement clinched on Tuesday. 

The plan would force all companies — most notably Apple — to make phones, tablets, e-readers and digital cameras use the USB-C charger, negotiators announced. Around 15 product types are included in the scope, including headsets, video-game consoles and headphones.

The plan, unveiled last year, was provisionally approved Tuesday and will save consumers an estimated ^250 million ($267 million) each year according to the European Commission. The European Parliament and 27 EU countries need to sign off on the agreement. 

Phones and tablet makers will have to comply by the fall of 2024. Laptops will have more time to make the switch, with negotiators giving laptop producers 40 months after the new rules go into effect. “A common charger is common sense for the many electronic devices on our daily lives,” Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement. “European consumers will be able to use a single charger for all their portable electronics — an important step to increase convenience and reduce waste.”

The proposal originally angered Apple, which said it would reduce innovation. But the company is testing future iPhone models that replace the current Lightning charging port with the more prevalent USB-C connector. Current Apple laptop models already use the USB-C charger.

The commission will also be able to set standards for wireless charging in the future.

What Apple is working on

Apple unveiled a flurry of new software features and services at its Worldwide Developers Conference, including an updated iPhone lock screen, multitasking features for the iPad, and a pay-later service that vaults it further into finance. Here are a few highlights:

iOS 16

It includes a new lock screen that allows users to personalise elements like their photo and the font used for the time. The lock screen is also getting widgets for the first time. And a feature called Live Activities will make it easier to keep track of plans and events.

Pay-later service

The company previewed its long-in-development “buy now, pay later” feature, which splits up the cost of Apple Pay purchases over four payments across six weeks. The feature, called Apple Pay Later, includes no interest or fees, it said.

Next-gen CarPlay

CarPlay will support multiple screens on cars irrespective of size and layout and will be able to show information including weather and navigation. Apple gave a long list of carmakers that could endorse the programme, including Ford Motor, Renault, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Honda Motor, and Jaguar Land Rover.

iPadOS

Following a major iPadOS update — aimed at professional users — the device will be able to resize windows, show more content on the display at once and offer a new multitasking view.