Official: iPhones released after December 2024 will need to abandon Lightning and switch to USB-C

We keep hearing rumors about making USB-C charging mandatory for most electronic devices in an effort to reduce e-waste. The European Commission (EC) first proposed a proposal to this effect in September 2021, with relevant regulators subsequently agreeing to the legislation in June 2022 and formally voting in favor in October. Now, the European Union (EU) has released documents confirming the exact date when the law will enforce USB-C as a charging standard.

Most new electronic devices that use wired charging solutions will be required to adopt USB-C by December 28, 2024. Likewise, EU member states have until December 28, 2023 to publish their regulations to implement the EU directive.

As a reminder, this law covers the following electronic devices:

• Phones
• Tablets
• E-readers
• Earbuds
• digital camera
• headphones and headsets
• handheld game console
• portable speaker
• keyboard
• computer mouse
• Laptops (as of April 28, 2026)

Devices that use wireless charging solutions are exempt from this law and are not affected.

The move primarily affects Apple, which uses a proprietary charging standard to charge most of its devices, including iPhones, with its Lightning cables. The law will force it to adopt USB-C for any affected hardware after December 28, 2024. However, the first USB-C-equipped Apple devices may not arrive until 2025, given that the Cupertino-based company typically launches new hardware by December each year.

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