Following Europe, India is making Type-C chargers mandatory for all devices
Asking for a charger and specifying that you need an iPhone or iOS charger is flexible for many. iPhones, at least in the Indian configuration, are still a status symbol. But the Charger Flex may soon become irrelevant and iPhone users will forget their precious chargers forever, they can ask an Android user for their charger.
Why? The Government of India has announced that it will make USB Type-C chargers standard for mobile phones and tablets.
The deadline is March 2025. After that all mobile phones and tablets sold in India will have to be compatible with USB Type-C charging.
Also, the consumer affairs department is also forming a committee to discuss standardization of both types of chargers.
One is USB Type-C for mobiles and tablets, and the other is for wearable devices like smartwatches and wireless headphones.
However, there is still no clarity on the charging requirements for laptops. In comparison, the EU has an extended deadline of 2026 to bring laptops into the USB Type-C fold.
The Android phone market doesn’t have much to worry about, but the story is different for iPhone maker Apple. While most smartphones have long adopted USB Type-C charging ports since the 2009 deal, Apple has stuck to it like a pain in the butt, refusing to mix it up.
Apple iPhones use Lightning port chargers. Only some of its devices, such as the latest iPad and some MacBooks, use USB Type-C charging ports. Regardless, India’s order doesn’t come as a shock to Apple, as the EU was able to rip off the bandaid for the iPhone maker a few months ago.
EU mandate: Notably, India’s decision comes months after the EU passed legislation for a common charger in its territory, something Apple has been trying to fight for a long time (almost 10 years).
