According to the latest report, the British government will not follow the European Union’s requirements for the iPhone and all smartphones to use USB-C as a universal charging system.
After more than a decade of debate over a common charger for all devices, the European Union has officially agreed on the issue. From the end of 2024, new rules requiring USB-C as a universal charger will go into effect across Europe – but not in the UK.
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According to the BBC, a UK government spokesman said, “We are not currently considering replicating this requirement.” However, both UK and EU officials have said the universal charger requirement will apply to devices sold in Northern Ireland.
Moreover, the UK left the EU with a “Brexit” plan, losing the protection of the EU agreement. However, Northern Ireland remains in the EU, which has led to the UK government reaching a special deal for Northern Ireland.
The UK then proposed breaking the deal be negotiated, but for now, Northern Ireland will be bound by EU product standards. The U.K. alone insists that it has established a strict standards body to protect users from Big Tech, but has not given the body any powers.
With Britain delaying the plan and struggling to renegotiate global trade deals on its own, the country likely won’t have much legislative time to consider emulating the EU’s stance on universal chargers.
However, it is also possible that the situation does not require it. Apple is more likely to move to wireless charging, or sell Lightning to USB-C adapters, rather than make separate iPhone models for the UK.
