Apple opposes a new push for a common phone charger in the EU

Recently the EU decided to try again with implementing a rule for a common smartphone charger, which it failed to do through the last years. The draft law is awaiting approval and if it comes into effect it will make mandatory the use of the USB Type-C plug. As we know, this standard is used in almost all of the Android phones with exception for the budget models that rely on Micro USB. Previously the EU reached a voluntary agreement with some of the major smartphone companies to use the Micro USB. The idea is to limit the electronic waste that comes from different chargers, and make it more comfortable for users. If you have one common plug, you can use friends or a colleagues charger if you don’t bring your own.

Apple opposes the plans as it is the only company that uses a different port for charging – Lightning. The company argues that it has shipped over 1 billion devices with that standard and it will cost 1.5 billion euros for the switch as there is a vast ecosystem that uses the Lightning port. According to Apple, there is no need for the mandatory rule and the voluntary measures were effective as there are de facto only two standards left – USB Type-C and Lightning (Micro USB is available only in small part of the models). Also according to the company, a mandatory rule will stifle innovation and it will harm consumers and the economy.

I think it’s a bit hypocritical by the Cupertino based company to be against such rules as it implies that it is above the other manufacturers. Lightning is a proprietary technology that means that companies do not have free and easy access to it.