EU Countries To Use Common Chargers For All Tech Devices By Autumn 2024
Spain News
Published: 09 June 2022 12:41 CET
Tech consumers in Spain will soon be able to use the same charger for multiple devices under new plans announced by the European Commission on Tuesday.
Under the plans, all tech devices in Spain and the rest of the EU will have to legally use the USB-C type charger device in a bid to save consumers money and cut down on the amount of electronic waste.
The move will mean that consumers will be able to purchase many tech devices safe in the knowledge that their existing chargers will be compatible.
MEPs reached the agreement on Tuesday which will see the ‘common charger’, which is already used in the majority of smartphones, extended so that they are compatible with other devices such as smartphones, tablets, headphones, games consoles and e-readers.
It is believed that the move could save consumers an estimated 250 Million Euros per year.
In a statement, European Parliament spokesperson Alex Agius Saliba said: “Today we have made the common charger a reality in Europe.
“European consumers were long frustrated with multiple chargers piling up with every new device. Now they will be able to use a single charger for all their portable electronics.
“We are proud that laptops, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, computer mice and portable navigation devices are also included, in addition to smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld video game consoles and portable speakers.”
However, the plans which are set to begin in the Autumn of 2024, could prove to be a major headache for Apple which uses its own lightning port technology for wired charging.
The California based tech giant which currently enjoys 30% market share of mobile phone sales within the European Union, is thought to be testing a USB-C type charger for its range of smartphones. Current Apple laptops are already using the technology.
Many Apple aficionados are not so keen on the type C chargers claiming that the grip is not as good as the existing lightning chargers and that they have a tendency to become loose over time.
Producers of laptops and smartwatches will have 40 months longer in which to implement the changes to their devices.
The provisional plans are yet to be approved by both the European Parliament and European Council but is expected to be a formality.
Source
https://spanishnewstoday.com/eu_approves_common_charger_for_all_devices_from_autumn_2024_to_cut_e_waste_1786865-a.html
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/07/all-smartphones-to-use-usb-c-charging-ports-from-autumn-2024-says-eu
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-07/eu-agrees-to-force-apple-phones-tablets-to-use-common-charger
