No more using multiple standards in each device and no more piles of cables that we have to take with us to charge the equipment. From Monday, almost all small electronics sold in the European Union must be charged from the same USB Type-C port. And the order will soon be extended even further.
Almost a decade of negotiations on this matter resulted in the adoption of regulations on a uniform standard for charging devices in the European Union at the end of 2022. According to the new regulations, from January 1, 2024, manufacturers can no longer sell in EU countries, among others: smartphones charged using a port other than USB Type C.
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No more accumulating a pile of cables for several devices
It took so long to develop a common position that the vast majority of smartphone manufacturers managed to switch to the USB-C standard several years ago. For many companies, adapting to the new regulations was completely painless. The loud exception here was Apple, which was extremely stubborn in sticking to its own Lightning standard. Ultimately, the iPhone manufacturer succumbed to pressure and the current generation (iPhone 15) is already equipped with USB-C.
The same charging port is also available in the refreshed version of Apple AirPods headphones. Because apart from smartphones, the regulations also cover a large number of small, popular electronic devices – including: wireless headphones (earphones, in-ears and in-ears), cameras, tablets and e-book readers, portable game consoles, speakers (equipped with a battery), and even some keyboards and mice.
However, this only applies to equipment that will go on sale from 2024, i.e. after the regulations come into force. Smartphones, tablets, cameras and accessories that were released earlier can still be sold on the European market.
“We’ve finally arrived! From 2024, one type of USB-C cable will be mandatory for all electronic devices in the EU. In the new year you will no longer hear: “Sorry, I don’t have the right plugin.” It is the perfect culmination of the 30th anniversary of the EU Single Market
– wrote the European Commission on the X website on New Year’s Eve afternoon.
Laptops will join smartphones. But there is one exception
In addition to the small electronics already mentioned, from January 1, 2026, laptops will be added. Manufacturers of portable computers have been given a little more time to adapt to the regulations, although many companies (including Apple) have been using the USB-C standard for charging for some time.
At least when it comes to business laptops, multimedia laptops and ultrabooks, because gaming computers are still usually charged with dedicated high-power power supplies. The EU has also provided an exception in the regulations for such devices. Laptops that are charged using chargers with a power higher than 100W will not be covered by the order even after 2026.
The European Union also wants to harmonize fast charging standards, create universal (fast) chargers and limit the practice of adding a separate charger to each smartphone. The aim of the regulations is, of course, primarily to reduce the amount of e-waste, but it is also estimated that consumers will save up to EUR 250 million per year as a result of the changes. At the same time, they will no longer have to look for a specific cable for each device or take a box of accessories for charging electronics on a short vacation.
2024-01-02 20:00:00
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