Apple announced they will begin pairing a USB-C charger with next-generation smartphones, replacing their lightning charger after 11 years. The company was reluctant to make the switch until the European Union voted to approve legislation to require all small devices like the iPhone, tablets, and digital cameras to support the USB-C charger by 2024, to reduce electronic waste and reduce costs for consumers.
Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Greg Joswiak told CNN “We have no choice, like we do around the world, to comply with local laws, but we think the approach would have been better environmentally and better for our customers to not have a government have that perspective”. The company cited concerns over security the USB-C offered compared to their lightning charger, and worried about the e-waste disposing of outdated chargers would cause. Yet according to calculations, Apple stands to lose out on billions of dollars a year from lightening charger sales, so it’s understandable why they were hesitant to make the switch.
For consumers, the USB-C is a game-changer because it’s versatile, user friendly, offers high-speed data transfer capabilities, and can be used on numerous devices from PCs to speakers- no matter the manufacturer. Imagine that! One charger, for every small device in your home. The USB-C is a neat freak’s dream! By the way, you can search for “electronic recycling near me” to safely dispose of old and outdated electronic devices and cables.