Whilst USB was invented by Intel, it isn't an Intel "standard" nor is it controlled by any one entity.įrom WIkipedia: "In 2015, the seven-person board of directors, led by USB-IF President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Ravencraft, consisted of representatives of Apple, HP Inc., Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Renesas Electronics, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments."īut yes, I wouldn't be surprised if the EU mandated a USB-C charging port on all mobile phones, meaning Apple couldn't have a portless iPhone in the EU. If Apple goes with a mag-safe charger and no physical charging port, I bet the EU will complain and try and sue Apple to provide a physical charging port. I have to wonder how much Intel is bribing the EU. USB is an Intel standard, meaning the EU is defining a no-substitute requirement for mobile phone chargers. The EU can do whatever they want to but the metric system is not the standard in the US and I doubt there will ever be a single world-wide standard for much of anything. While some rumors have pointed toward a USB-C iPhone being likely in the future, other reports suggest that Apple isn't adopting USB-C anytime soon, and may instead opt for an entirely port-less iPhone. At the time, 21% had Apple's proprietary Lightning format but this has also increased with time.Īlthough Apple does have USB-C ports on some hardware, Lightning is standard on its iPhone devices. In 2018, half the chargers sold with mobile phones have a USB micro connector, while 29% had USB-C with an increase since.
It isn't clear what type of port the EU would mandate, but it would likely be USB-C. Apple has argued against mandated charging standards, claiming that they would dampen innovation, annoy consumers, and create unnecessary electronic waste. In addition to a proposed harmonized charging port, the European Commission reportedly also wants the sales of charging hardware to be decoupled from devices.ĮU lawmakers claim that a common charger would be more convenient for consumers and would be more environmentally friendly. European officials have been pushing for a common charging standard for some time, despite protests from Apple and others in the technology industry.Īccording to Reuters, the introduction of a legislative proposal implementing a common charging standard in Europe could come as soon as Thursday, Sept.