Oliver Haslam on September 23, 2021, 10:42 pm

The EU Wants USB-C Standard For All Smartphones And Electronic Devices, Including iPhones, To Reduce E-Waste

Apple could be forced to put USB-C into iPhones after the EU announced plans to make it mandatory for all devices to ship with the port. That would mean the end of Lightning.

While the move would only affect devices sold in the European Union, it’s unlikely that Apple would sell two different versions of its iPhones and would instead put USB-C into all iPhones worldwide.

The Verge notes that this will only affect devices that have some sort of wired charging solution, however. Any device that only charges wirelessly will not need to switch over — potentially opening the door for a portless iPhone as has been rumored of late.

The proposals only cover devices using wired, not wireless, chargers, EU commissioner Thierry Breton said in a press conference, adding that “there is plenty of room for innovation on wireless.” A spokesperson for the Commission subsequently confirmed to The Verge that a USB-C port is only mandatory for devices that charge using a cable. But, if a device charges exclusively via wireless, like Apple’s rumored portless iPhone, there’d be no requirement for a USB-C charging port.

For any of this to be come law the proposal will need to be voted on in European Parliament. If it is passed, device manufacturers will have two years to comply.

That would mean that Apple still has a couple of years to get its iPhone situation in order, whether that involves switching to USB-C or ditching cables altogether.