Will the universal charger, the true arles of consumer electronics, become a reality? On Tuesday, the parliament and the European Council reached an interim agreement on that topic. In the fall of 2024, the USB-C connector will become the common charging connection for all smartphones, tablets, video game consoles, portable speakers, and headphones. Laptops must also comply with this rule by 2026.
A little patience և Europe will finally put an end to the nightmare of finding a cable compatible with your phone. The text has yet to be officially approved, which must be done in the fall.
Text editors are based on the need to achieve savings for both consumers and the planet. In the upgrade market, it is clear that most buyers of the new device already have the equipment needed to recharge it. Thus, the European Parliament estimates that consumers will saveup to 250 million euros per year in case of unnecessary purchases of the charger “At the same time, having a positive impact on the environment, reducing the production of those cables. «Disposable, unused chargers make up approximately 11,000 tons of e-waste per year «.
Arm wrestling with Apple
Realizing that the type of connector is not everything, the legislator aims to harmonize the charging speed. This means that all devices can be charged at the same speed. In the garden of stone manufacturers who, like Nintendo, have already equipped their terminals with USB-C, but with features that only chargers work. Thus, the Switch console should be able to recharge with any cable, not just the Japanese brand.
If Apple wants to market its products in Europe, it must abide by our rules
Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market
But first and foremost is Apple, which is at the crossroads of Europe. The iPhone maker has certainly added its latest iPads and Macs with USB-C, but not its phones, headphones or wireless headset cases. Apple has always promoted “freedom of innovation” in favor of its Lightning system, showing a strong ability to resist the European will. “Brussels will” cause significant losses to producers, reduce consumer choice and create additional e-waste, “the brand reiterated. European Commissioner for Home Affairs Thierry Breton, nervous about the American, did not weaken his words.If Apple wants to market its products in Europe, it must abide by our rules. »
Especially that its scope can be expanded. Accepted text:prepare for the future“, Adds its rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba. It can be adapted to wireless chargers. Indeed, more and more devices are using this technology. It can even quickly become the dominant solution. However, several standards coexist incompatible with each other. Europe has decided to take the lead, provided that regulations on the subject can be applied without going through the European Parliament և Council. A way to learn lessons from the past.
Indeed, the theme of the universal charger is the famous duet in Brussels. European authorities have been working on it since 2009. Thirteen years ago, they sought to eliminate the proliferation of chargers that were almost as diverse as the number of cell phone models in circulation. The first agreement, which is valid until 2014, emphasizes the USB 2.0 port. Discussions then resumed to achieve a sort of status quo on USB-C while maintaining “property solutions«. A new step was taken on Tuesday. Without closing the TV series.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.