Tech giant Apple will have to change its charger connection on all phones and iPads by 2024 as EU politicians vote to make charging ports for all phones, tablets and cameras the same.
The agreement is the first of its kind to happen in the world after companies failed to reach an agreement on a common solution. The European Commission has been pushing for a single mobile charging port more than 10 years.
Currently, Apple and Android users have to use different charging cables for their mobile phones and tablets. Apple's devices are charged from a Lightning cable while Android-based devices are powered using USB-C connectors.
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According to a 2019 Commission study, half the chargers sold with mobile phones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% had a Lightning connector.
EU industry chief Thierry Breton said in a statement: "The deal we struck this morning will bring around €250m of savings to consumers.
"It will also allow new technologies such as wireless charging to emerge and to mature without letting innovation to become source of market fragmentation and consumer inconvenience."
Meanwhile the European Parliament said in a statement: "By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU."
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