Death to the Lightning port!
The reviled Lightning port is seen here on the iPhone 13
What’s etched in stone today is the European Union’s overwhelming support of one mobile charging standard to rule them all, sealed with no less than 602 votes in favour, just 13 against, and a measly 8 abstentions.
Exactly what comes next?
Following the law’s formal adoption as a result of the aforementioned unequivocal vote, another approval will have to come from the European Council (which is obviously nothing but a formality), after which the Radio Equipment Directive is to be published in the EU Official Journal and “enter into force” 20 days later.
Member states will then get 12 months to “transpose” the rules and another 12 months to “apply” them, which essentially means the Lightning ban will only come into effect for iPhones released in 2025 and beyond. Laptop manufacturers (including Apple) will get even more time to implement USB Type-C technology across their products, as the EU’s new “obligation” is scheduled to expand to that particular category “from” spring 2026.
Long live the USB Type-C port!
Keep in mind that, if the European Parliament gets its way, which seems just about inescapable right now, buyers of new “mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable” will have to be offered a choice between a purchase with a charging “device” included or without one… eventually.