Similar to the EU, India will soon adopt a common charger policy requiring that smartphones, laptops, and tablets all use the Type-C charging port. Consumers will no longer need to purchase various chargers each time they purchase a new device thanks to this universal charger policy. (firework.com) The action will lower the nation’s yearly production of electronic waste. This is bad news for Apple right now.
The government held extensive consultations over the past few weeks before deciding to develop a universal charger policy. The common charge rule will only apply to smart devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, it has been decided. The government has not yet decided on cheap feature phone chargers.
The Type-C charger rule seeks to lessen the enormous amounts of electronic waste that India produces. India generated 5 million tonnes of electronic waste, placing it third behind China and the US, according to an ASSOCHAM-EY report from Electronic Waste Management in India.
According to a Bloomberg report, the decision to implement a universal charger policy was reached following an internal government meeting. Consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh confirmed this. “During the meeting, a broad consensus emerged among stakeholders on the adoption of USB Type-C as a charging port for electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Further, it was deliberated that a different charging port may be adopted for feature phones,” Singh said.
Apple has bad news
The EU mandated the use of a single charging port for smartphones, tablets, and cameras by 2024 a few months ago. Apple iPhones, which currently use the Lightning port, are also subject to the rule. Does this imply that Apple will have to introduce the following iPhones with a USB Type-C port? This is largely feasible because Apple has significant markets in both Europe and India, and it will think about abiding by the law of the land. According to rumors, the iPhone 15 of next year will not have a Lightning port but rather a USB Type-C port.
Since most OEMs have already switched from micro USB to Type-C ports in the last few years, the common charger policy may not have a significant impact on Android phones. There are rumors that the Indian government is preparing to implement a common charger policy for smart devices, but it is unclear what will happen to feature phones, which are still restricted to using micro-USB due to cost considerations.