USB Type C will become mandatory in 2024

If you have ever found yourself frustrated at the multiple chargers lying around to charge different devices, you will be pleased to learn that a single charger will soon be able to power all devices. European lawmakers reached an agreement last month to ensure all devices sold will have the same charging port including Apple iPhone & Android devices.  

Alex Agius Saliba from European Parliaments commented “Today we have made the common charger a reality in Europe!  European consumers were 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 videogame consoles, and portable speakers. We have also added provisions on wireless charging being the next evolution in the charging technology and improved information and labelling for consumers,”

5 Different Types of Charging Cables

• Micro-USB Cables – Micro-USB cables are small and are used for mobiles and certain other devices.
• Type A Charger Cable – One of the most common chargers the USB Type A charger cables are typically rectangular and consist of pin connectors at the bottom. 
• Type B Charger Cable – USB Type B ports are present on large devices such as printers, scanners, and external storage devices. These have a distinctive square shape with slant corners.
• USB Type C Cable – USB Type C charger cables have become most popular among mobile manufacturers. This is because these cables have considerable advantages over the other types. USB C Type cables are faster than their predecessors.
• Apple’s Lightning Charger – Replacing the original 30 pin dock connectors, the lightning phone charger cables are designed and owned by Apple Inc. The lightning cord has 8 pins and can be inserted into the port in any direction. iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Max, and all the latest models of Apple are compatible with a lightning charger cable.

It’s not unlikely to say most people would be happy to ditch cable cluttered drawers for a single USB Type C charger. On the other side of the fence most cable types come with different wattage capacities and data transfer speeds, and some USB Type C cables are designed to only deliver power, not data. Therefore this could lead to device errors and overload.

It is important to note however that the UK government has said it is not “currently considering” following suit. Despite this, it is highly likely that British consumers will be affected. Also, under the terms of the EU withdrawal agreement, the regulations would apply to Northern Ireland.