Apple will soon be forced to change its 'Lightning cable' to a standard USB-C charger in European countries, after the EU approved a plan for a single charging port for most devices.
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From 2024, people in the EU will be able to charge their iPhone with an Android cable, and from 2026, charge their laptop, too, as all new handheld mobile phones, tablets, headphones and other devices will use a USB-C charging port.
As the EU initiates the charger change, Australians might soon see the benefits, Central Queensland University Associate Professor Michael Cowling said.
Professor Cowling, who works in information and communication technology, said it's possible Apple will roll out an iPhone with a USB-C connector internationally next year.
"A lot of people are presuming [Apple] are going to roll it out worldwide," he said.
Apple does have a reputation for making universal changes to their products and this year they removed the SIM card from US iPhones, so it is possible to limit changes to certain regions, he said.
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton said the long-awaited change would reduce waste and increase convenience, saving European consumers 250 million euros ($387 million AUD) every year.
"A common charger is common sense for the many electronic devices on our daily lives," Mr Breton said.
"It will also allow new technologies such as wireless charging to emerge and to mature without letting innovation to become source of market fragmentation and consumer inconvenience."
Executive vice-president for a Europe fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager said the new rules are a win for consumers and the environment.
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"No more bundles of different chargers in our drawers. One common charger is a real benefit to us as consumers. It will also help our environment," she said.
Due to incompatible chargers on the market, more than a third of consumers reported problems with charging, and spent approximately 2.4 billion euros ($3.7 billion AUD) annually on additional standalone chargers, according to the European Commission.
Many Apple products already use USB-C connectors, including their new laptops, but the changes will affect iPhones, Airpods, and the base-level iPad.
While consumers will likely find out with the expected release of the new iPhone next September, Professor Cowling said a portless iPhone with wireless charging may be next on the agenda for Apple, ditching cables all together.
Rosie Bensley
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