Equipment|A new EU regulation forced the USB-C connector on many electronic devices.
In the new ones phones and other wireless devices must have a USB-C charging connector starting Saturday, December 28.
It is a new regulation of the European Union, the purpose of which is that consumers can use the same charger in different small and medium-sized electronic devices. The USB-C charger will therefore become a universal charger in the EU.
of the European Parliament according to the release, the goal is also, among other things, to reduce electronic waste. It is estimated that approximately 11,000 tons of electronic waste are generated in the EU from discarded and unused chargers each year.
In addition to phones sold on the EU market, the new requirement applies to e.g. tablets, digital cameras, headphones, game consoles and keyboards. The rule also applies to laptops from the spring of 2026, says the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
According to the requirements, all devices that support fast charging must have the same charging speed.
When buying a new device, you should check whether the device comes with a charger. According to the new rules, it must be possible to buy the device without a charger.
According to Traficom, the task of manufacturers, importers and distributors is to ensure that the devices sold meet the new requirements.
European the union urged electronics companies for a long time to introduce a universal charger, but the voluntary act did not yield results. That’s why electronics companies have had to harmonize their chargers and devices in the face of necessity.
EU Commission according to the aim of the reform is to break away from the so-called technology trap, where the consumer is dependent on one manufacturer.
Among other things, the electronics giant Apple has used its own Lightning connector in its devices, which has not been compatible with other manufacturers’ chargers. Apple opposed the move, saying that heavy regulation would limit innovation. However, USB-C connectors have been used by Apple since the iPhone 15 model.
According to the Parliament’s bills, using the same charger in several devices saves consumers up to 250 million euros annually.