The European Parliament, the ECU Council, and member nations have voted to make USB-C the same old MagSafe charging on most electronic phones, tablets, and cameras by the fall of 2024. The pass comes as a manner to reduce electronic waste, and also cut the hassle when buying new devices, however, it may pose potential issues for Apple and Microsoft’s charging technology.
You’re likely familiar with how this settles the debate over lights ports on iPhones, however at the computing aspect, the story is going a piece deeper and leaves a query to be replied to. For computers, in particular, this ruling unearths that computer brands have 40 months to make the trade over to USB-C. Yet Apple and Microsoft have been pushing their proprietary charging answers on new laptops and tablets.
Apple brought again the magnetic MagSafe charging port to 2021 MacBooks and even to the new MacBook Air M2 model. Microsoft, meanwhile, has the surface join port, which is used to fast charge tablets like the surface pro 8, and price up energy-hungry devices just like the surface laptop Studio past the standard wattage that USB-C PD chargers provide.
The European ruling might suggest that Microsoft and Apple should forestall offering those chargers out of the field on those devices in want of USB-C. But there’s a capture.
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You could already rate a surface via USB-C and might achieve this with the MacBook, too. So, it may not precisely spell the end of MagSafe and the surface connection that the EU wants. Instead, it can imply that these chargers can be added as optional, even as USB-C becomes the new every day. Take this obvious message from page 7 of the ruling for example.
“As regards purchaser comfort, the preferred option will make certain interoperability through a common interface and charging overall performance, lowering sales of standalone EPS and cables and selling their reuse.”
Apple and Microsoft could already have the lead while the EU comes on board to make USB-C charging the norm on new devices. But lookout, MagSafe, and surface join, the EU has its eye on you.
