The European Union has ruled that all smartphones will require the same charger from 2024. 

European Union politicians have agreed on a single USB Type-C mobile charging port for mobile phones, tablets and cameras, which they say will make life easier for consumers and save them money. 

The European Commission has been pushing for a single mobile charging port for more than a decade, prompted by complaints about having to switch to different chargers for similar devices.

Tech giant Apple has long relied on proprietary cables and ports to power its devices, and had warned that being forced to use the same as other brands would hurt innovation and create more electronics waste.

However, Apple shares were up 0.9 per cent in morning trade in New York on the day the EU decision was announced, and some analysts say the new ports could actually drive sales for Apple in 2024.

Apple’s most recent generation of laptops already include USB-C charging, rather than previous proprietary cables, and reports say an iPhone with a USB-C charging port could debut next year.

A 2019 study showed that half of the phones used in the EU came with USB micro-B connectors, while 29 per cent had a USB-C connector and 21 per cent a Lightning (Apple) connector. 

“By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU,” the European Parliament said in a statement.

USB Type-C cables and ports are a significant advance on previous formats, often featuring a symmetrical pin layout that means a cable can be plugged in either way, as well as electronic marking, as the cables can contain a chip. The electronic ID chip provides information about product/vendor, cable connectors, USB signalling protocols, passive/active construction, use of specific power, available current, latency, RX/TX directionality, controller modes, and hardware/firmware versions.

The European Commission has also agreed that charging speed will be harmonised for devices that support fast charging, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger.

Additionally, it is giving tech companies a new obligation to provide consumers with clear information on the charging characteristics of new devices, making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible. Manufacturers must also allow buyers to choose whether they want to purchase new electronic equipment with or without a charging device.

The new obligations should lead to more re-use of chargers, and could help EU consumers save up to 250 million euro a year on unnecessary charger purchases. 

As wireless charging technology becomes more prevalent, the European Commission also intends to develop new rules on the interoperability of charging solutions.

The European regulations are expected to flow to markets outside of the EU, such as Australia and the US, in what is known as the ‘Brussels Effect’.