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EU plans to legislate for common phone charger despite Apple grumbles
Published by maria gbaf
Posted on September 22, 2021
1 min readLast updated: February 3, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
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Published by maria gbaf
Posted on September 22, 2021
1 min readLast updated: February 3, 2026
The EU plans to legislate a common charger for phones, affecting Apple. The move aims to reduce waste and improve user convenience.
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission will on Thursday present a legislative proposal for a common charger for mobile phones, tablets and headphones, a person familiar with the matter said – a move likely to affect iPhone maker Apple more than its rivals.
The European Union executive and EU lawmakers have been pushing for a common charger for over a decade, saying it would be better for the environment and more convenient for users.
The Commission wants the sale of chargers to be decoupled from devices, and also propose a harmonised charging port, the person said.
Apple, whose iPhones are charged from its Lightning cable, has said rules forcing connectors to conform to one type could deter innovation, create a mountain of electronic waste and irk consumers.
Rival Android-based devices are charged using USB-C connectors. Half the chargers sold with mobile phones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, according to a 2019 Commission study.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
The EU's proposal for a common phone charger, impacting Apple and other manufacturers.
To reduce electronic waste and improve convenience for users.
Apple's Lightning cable could be replaced by a universal standard like USB-C.
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