About a week after the EU ruling against the Apple Lightning port, US senators are already pushing for something similar. This move comes with demands to develop a common charger across mobile devices as some senators push for “a comprehensive strategy” to curb the existing charging ports.
There are two major charging ports for mobile devices around the globe. The majority is USB Type-C while the minority remains the Apple Lightning port. The amount of e-waste that cables made for these ports generate is unnecessary. This is what prompted the EU to pass the universal charging standard. Similarly, this same issue is what the US senate seeks to put under control.
Most of the e-waste from charging cables is not recycled and pollutes the environment. The senate called the EU mandate a wise decision, taking environmental concerns to bear. But is the US senate sugar coating things relating to a common charger?
This move by the EU and possibly soon by the US may not be aimed at hurting Apple’s business. On the surface, it is for the greater good of the environment. The senate claims that it is not pushing for a universal charger. They are pitching their request as a strategy to enable them to build their charging standard. This may be an attempt to avoid being criticized like the EU after the announcement of USB Type-C as a charging standard.
However, the senate coins their words concerning a universal charging standard, the minority Apple lightning cable will take the fall. Already, the EU expects Apple to phase out the Lightning port by 2024. So will we wave the Apple Lightning port goodbye with the iPhone 15 series and welcome a new era? Apple looks like it is already preparing to make the switch to USB Type-C.
