We have talked about this before, but it seems that the European Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee has voted on having a common port for all devices. In case you were under a rock, this is an initiative for all tech manufacturers to use USB C ports including Apple.
Now, we aren't sure if Apple would comply with that. All of their iPhones are using the Lightning port and so are most of the iPads. It would be interesting to see if the new law gets approved, this is because not only would it be just phones and tablets, but as well as laptops, digital cameras, audio headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers. The smartwatch gets a pass because it's deemed too small.
For the full context of the voting, here's the press release by the European Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee:
"MEPs also want to see clear information and labeling on new devices about charging options, as well as whether a product includes a charger. This would, they say, help to avoid confusion and ease purchasing decisions for consumers that often own several different devices and do not always need additional chargers.
With the growing usage of wireless charging, MEPs want the European Commission to present a strategy by the end of 2026 that allows for minimum interoperability of any new charging solutions. The goal is to avoid a new fragmentation in the market, to continue to reduce environmental waste, ensure consumer convenience and avoid so-called “lock-in” effects created by proprietary charging solutions."
The voting is scheduled for May 2022 and it will have to go through the draft legislation. After that, it will be sent to another round of votes by the EU member states. Since the year is planned for 2026 and beyond, that means the iPhone 14 series and the next three generations should still be using the Lightning port.
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