European Union lawmakers have voted to force all mobile phones, including Apple products, to only use a USB-C connector to charge unit. Manufacturers will now need to create a single-use charging solution.

The new rule is aimed at reducing waste by enabling customers to re-use old chargers for their new phone.

Charlie Brown, Life and Technology host told Oliver Peterson on Perth Live that the new rule also includes tablets, speakers and a range of other smaller portable devices requiring USB-C charging.

“By 2026 it will be laptops as well – it’s a slightly longer development curve for a laptop than it is a phone or tablet,” he told Oly.

“At the moment in Australia you have three main ports – micro-USB, USB-C and the lightening port that Apple uses with iPhone.”

By 2024, the EU will have the power to refuse any sales of phone products without a USB-C within their territory.

“If you have a device that has wireless charging and doesn’t have a port at all, that will be fine. So maybe iPhone will go all wireless charging and all wireless connection to prevent putting a port at all.”

Press PLAY to hear what this could mean for the market