EU agrees to require one charger for all devices Transcript

Speaker 1: (00:00) Soon you'll be able to boost your iPhone battery using your Android charger. That's if you live in the European Union. The European Parliament on Tuesday approved new rules to introduce a single charging point for mobile phones, tablets, and cameras from fall 2024. EU lawmaker Alex Agius Saliba stayed the reform through the EU assembly. Alex Agius Saliba: (00:25) The simplest solutions are often the best and most practical ones, and the simple solution each year will save thousands of tons of electronic waste, facilitate the reuse of old electronics, better consumer convenience, reduce unnecessary costs, and also help to save millions of euros. Speaker 1: (00:50) The new rules, which are a world first, will make USB-C connectors used by Android based devices the standard across the 27 nation block. Old charges will not be outlawed, however, so that customers can continue to use existing models. The change is expected to lead a gradual phase out of older products, but is not good news for everyone. Apple will now have to change it's charging point for iPhones and other devices. The deal also covers e-readers, earbuds, and other technologies, meaning it may also have an impact on Samsung, Huawei, and other device makers, and it'll apply to laptops from 2026. The European Commission has estimated that a single charger rule would save just under $250 million for consumers. The large size of the EU market means the new rules may lead to changes in other countries. Apple has in the past warned that the proposal would hurt innovation and create a mountain of electronics waste. The US giant, as well as Samsung and Huawei, were unavailable for immediate comment.