USB-C has been the modern take of the USB connector, replacing the older Mini-USB and Micro-USB.
This is because USB-C offers faster data transfer rates than previous USB versions. It has been touted as the interconnect hosts and devices, replacing various other electrical cables and connectors, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and 3.5mm audio jacks.
The biggest advantage for end users at least, is USB-C's reversible connector that can be plugged in either up or down.
27 countries in the European Union have long been wanting to have a law that would force all devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and others, to use one single, universal connector.
And that law is finally agreed.
The European Parliament announced that it has reached a "provisional agreement" that establishes a single charging solution, and in this case, it's the USB Type-C, for certain electronics.
The initial agreement said that the law applies to phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld consoles, and portable speakers.
Manufacturers are still allowed to sell any of their new and existing devices that aren't using USB-C, but starting 2024, all new products must support Type-C charging.
Laptops sold in the EU should also use USB-C, but the deadline for that is farther off.
This is because the technology behind USB-C is still under development, and that it's still arguable that the Type-C charger has enough power to effortlessly charge larger laptops.
While many manufacturers had less to no issues in adopting the Type-C technology, one major company is famously reluctant.
And that company is Apple.
Apple criticized the EU’s charger rules when they were first proposed in 2021.
"We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world," Apple said at the time.
In response to Apple's statement, the European Union said that it was going to update its rules as new technology emerges.
And this time, the law by the EU can stop Apple from arguing.
Apple has been portrayed as the main target of these rules, since iPhones refrains from using USB-C for its iPhones, and still use Apple’s proprietary Lightning charging port.
Even though the iPad Pro/Air and all MacBooks have moved to USB Type-C, all iPhones in the market are still using Lightning, making the proprietary technology pretty much alive and well.
While the law could force Apple, the Cupertino-based company could theoretically side-step the rules by making iPhones that can only charge wirelessly, since at this time, the EU has no proposed standardized wireless charger.
Since Apple added MagSafe wireless charging to its phones starting with the iPhone 12 series, there have been rumors that Apple might remove a physical charging port entirely.
It's worth noting though, that despite Apple's strong stance against using USB-C for its phones, reports indicate that Apple has been testing iPhones with USB Type-C ports, suggesting that Apple has back up plans, if it cannot avoid the law.
While having a universal charger for many devices certainly help end users, EU's main concern is more about electronic waste.
The EU estimates that disposed and unused chargers amounted to 11,000 metric tons of e-waste in 2018, and that number will continue to rise as chargers become larger and heavier to accommodate faster speeds. More electronic waste means more hardware piling up in landfills, which contributes to poltion since hardware cannot decompose easily.
So here, the law is not only aimed at eliminating "cable clutter," as it is also meant to reduce e-waste, as explained by Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Vice President.
In the end, by having less charger types would affect everyone on the planet, and not just the people living within the EU’s borders.
The idea is that, if people can have one charger standard for most (if not all) of their mobile devices in their household, chances are, the people inside the same household can use and reuse the same adapters and cables, and also for longer periods of time.
What's more, EU also said that the law should make buyers’ lives easier.
"Consumers will be provided with clear information on the charging characteristics of new devices," the EU said, "making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible. Buyers will also be able to choose whether they want to purchase new electronic equipment with or without a charging device."
Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment following the news, but during the legislative process, Apple told EU officials that the proposed rule would be useless, because forcing Apple to use USB-C would make billions of obsolete Lightning connectors ending up as waste.
A 2021 study cited in the same report found that iPhones with the Lightning connector accounted for 18% of new mobile phone sales in 2019, with 44% using USB-C and 38% using the older USB Micro-B connector.