From tomorrow a unique charger in the EU, USB-C will become standard

Goodbye to cables and cables of all kinds, at least in the European Union where starting from tomorrow, 28 December, the USB-C port it will be the universal standard for chargers. All new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, video game consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earphones sold in the EU will have to have a USB-C charging port. From April 28, 2026, this requirement will apply to laptops.

The new legislation, adopted in October 2022 with 602 votes in favour, 13 against and 8 abstentions, is part of a wider EU effort to reduce e-waste and enable consumers to make more sustainable choices. In essence, a single charger will be able to be used for an entire range of rechargeable small and medium-sized portable electronic devices as long as they operate with a power output of up to 100 Watt. Additionally, all devices that support fast charging will now have the same speed, allowing users to use any compatible charger.

Dedicated labels will inform consumers about the charging features of the new devices, making it easier for them to check whether their existing chargers are compatible. Shoppers will also be able to make an informed choice whether or not to purchase a new charging device with a new product. These new obligations will lead to greater reuse of chargers and the Commission estimates an overall saving of around 250 million euros per year on purchases of unnecessary chargers, while those disposed of and unused represent around 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste per year in the EU alone. ‘Eu. The most excellent victim, at least in Europe, is Apple’s ‘lighting’ port which has already disappeared from the iPhone 15, while MacBooks already adopted USB-C for charging.