The European Commission (EC) presented Apple with a major headache today after it decided to push ahead with making USB-C mandatory on all devices.
A proposal put forward today by the EC will update the Radio Equipment Directive so as to harmonize charging ports and fast charging technology. It means that USB-C will become the required port on all devices sold within the European Union, which includes smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, portable speakers, and handheld videogame consoles.
The majority of Android device manufacturers are either already using USB-C, or intend to make the switch away from the older Micro USB port in the near future. Apple, on the other hand, would need to change the Lightning port on its devices. However, there is a way Apple could avoid having to do that.
The revised Radio Equipment Directive will now need to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. Once that is concluded, there’s a transition period of 24 months to allow industry time to comply. The Verge has had it confirmed by a spokesperson for the EC that the mandatory use of a USB-C port is only required if a device charges using a cable. In other words, a device that can only be recharged wirelessly wouldn’t be breaking any rules by not offering a USB-C port.
With that in mind, it looks as though Apple has at least two years to either relent and adopt USB-C across all its hardware, or remove the Lightning port and make its devices port-free and completely reliant on wireless charging. Which path is Apple more likely to travel down? Keep in mind there’s already been predictions of a portless iPhone being released in the near future.
The other proposed change by the EC, and one that’s unlikely to get any complaints from industry or consumers, is to stop chargers from being bundled with new devices. That way, if you already have a USB-C charger, you won’t end up with a spare gathering dust.
