Apple Forced To Change iPhone Charging Cables Under New Court Ruling

Apple is being forced to change the charging cables used for iPhones under a new court ruling issued by the European Union.

Anyone who's ever switched between Apple and Android will be all too familiar with the frustration of trying to remember which cables fit which device, with the newer Apple phones requiring a different charger to some Apple laptops, which themselves use the same cables as many Android devices.

In a bid to simplify the charging process, the EU has announced all new phones and tablets must use the same charging ports within two years. 

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All companies must make the USB-C the common charging port on all smaller devices by Autumn 2024, the ruling states, while laptops will be required to switch to the port some time after that.

The change will have no affect on many Android devices, but it means Apple will have to redesign its iPhone port, which doubles as a headphone jack for those without wireless headphones, and drop the Lightning cable that has been used on its devices for 10 years. The Lightning cable is currently smaller than the standard USB-C plug.

Though having to swap to USB-C cables might be a cause of frustration from some longtime Apple users, the EU has argued that the current variations between charging ports encourages electronic waste and leads to confusion.

Apple is among a number of companies that have argued against standardised cables, claiming having flexibility in the choice of charging points allows for better performance.

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Speaking about the possibility of a ruling in September, an Apple spokesperson told CNBC the firm stands for 'innovation and deeply cares about the customer experience'.

“We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world.

"We look forward to continued engagement with stakeholders to help find a solution that protects consumer interest, as well as the industry’s ability to innovate and bring exciting new technology to users," the spokesperson said at the time.

Now the agreement has been reached, it is set to be formally approved by the EU’s parliament and council after the summer break.

The decision will then published in the EU’s official journal before going into effect 20 days later. The rules are set to apply after 24 months, with devices that are first sold before Autumn 2024 exempt from the change.

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