The Lightning port is no more - the European Parliament has passed legislation that requires all phone manufacturers to adopt USB-C for charging. That includes Apple.

The writing was on the wall when the European Union put forward new measures to unify charging standards across devices. Now the Parliament has approved proposals and USB-C will be mandatory by the end of 2024.

EU to make USB-C mandatory for phones by fall 2024 photo 1
Marcus Urbenz / Unsplash

It's not just phones that will be affected. Other electronic devices that feature wired charging, such as tablets and cameras, must adopt it also.

This will naturally hit Apple hard, which will be required to switch to USB-C for its 2024 iPhone (iPhone 16?) and on - if it wants to sell them in EU countries, at least. Alternatively, it may opt to ditch wired charging entirely.

The legislation is being introduced to cut down on waste and make electronic use more sustainable. By using the same cable and charger between devices and generations, it will even shrink packaging as products can ship without either in the box.

"The common charger will finally become a reality in Europe. We have waited more than 10 years for these rules, but we can finally leave the current plethora of chargers in the past," said Parliament rapporteur, Alex Agius Saliba.

"This future-proof law allows for the development of innovative charging solutions in the future, and it will benefit everyone - from frustrated consumers to our vulnerable environment. These are difficult times for politics, but we have shown that the EU has not run out of ideas or solutions to improve the lives of millions in Europe and inspire other parts of the world to follow suit."