The European Union has passed a new law to require all smartphones sold within the 27 countries of the EU to adopt USB-C charging ports by autumn 2024, forcing Apple and all other smartphone manufacturers to comply to legally sell their devices within the European Union member states.
By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU, with smartwatches and small devices such as health trackers exempt from the ruling where the hardware is too small to offer a USB-C port.
For Apple to continue legally selling the iPhone in European Union member states, the USB-C charging port must be adopted no later than 2024, although rumors suggest Apple will either introduce its first USB-C iPhone beginning next year, a year ahead of the deadline or scrap the charging port altogether by introducing its first-ever wireless charging-only iPhone.
The European Union has been pushing manufacturers including Apple to adopt USB-C in an effort to reduce electronic waste and make the EU more sustainable, with the group announcing earlier this year that it intended to pass the new law, which today received approval.
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