The clock is steadily ticking on Apple’s Lightning charger

Enlarge / The Lightning connector's reign on Apple devices looks like it's coming to an end. (credit: Getty)

USB-C has won the war on charging in the European Union (EU). As of December 28, 2024, smartphones, tablets, and numerous other consumer devices that charge over a cable will have to support USB-C charging in order to be sold in the region. That means the clock is ticking on Apple's Lightning, the most prominent company resistant to the USB-C takeover.

As announced by the European Parliament Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Official Journal of the EU's Twitter accounts today and spotted by The Verge, the EU's USB-C legislation is published in the Official Journal. The law goes into effect on December 27 and requires compliance by 2024.

The legislation will first affect smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, earbuds, portable speakers, handheld video game consoles, e-readers, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems. In April 2026 it will apply to laptops.

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