The Indian electronics industry is moving towards uniform smartphone charging ports

NEW DELHI, Nov 16 (Reuters) – Stakeholders in India’s electronics industry have agreed to gradually roll out uniform USB-C charging ports for devices including smartphones and laptops, the Indian government said on Wednesday.

The adoption of USB-C connectors, used in many Android devices, is expected to hurt Apple Inc, whose iPhones are currently charged using a Lightning cable.

The iPhone maker must change the charger for its phones in the European Union from autumn 2024 to comply with new rules that require a single charging port for most electronic devices.

“A broad consensus has emerged among stakeholders to adopt USB Type-C as a charging port for electronic devices,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a statement after a government task force met with industry groups representing smartphone gamers.

The ministry said that for phones that lack more advanced smartphone features, such as the ability to use the Internet to download apps, a different charging port could be used.

The government says a group will also be formed to study the feasibility of a unified charging port for portable devices such as headphones and smart watches.

The statement did not name any company that attended the meeting or agreed to the phased implementation proposal. The government will conduct a study to assess the environmental impact of the transition to a single charging port, he said.

Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. (Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)