EU reaches agreement on universal charger: USB-C becomes the standard

The European Union has been promoting the obligation of the USB-C port on telephones and tablets for years. As a result, the universal charger can become commonplace, and the amount of electronic waste can be drastically reduced. This obligation is now laid down in European legislation and will come into effect in the autumn of 2024. The European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Member States reached an agreement on this on Tuesday.

USB-C as standard

In 2018, the EU already conducted research into the potential benefits of a universal charger. The conclusion followed two years ago: such a charger is more convenient for the consumer and it helps to reduce the amount of electronic waste. The Commission chose USB-C as the standard because it was technically the best, and now the time has finally come: the EU agrees that USB-C should become the standard.

By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU. This law is part of a wider EU effort to make EU products more sustainable, reduce electronic waste and make consumers’ lives easier.

The new rules ensure that consumers in the EU can charge their devices with a single charger, which is the universal charger. The main motivation for this regulation is the enormous amount of electronic waste that smartphone chargers are responsible for. Worldwide, an estimated 51,000 tons of e-waste is created every year. In addition, it should be easier for consumers to charge on the various products.

Thanks to the new rules, consumers will also have the choice whether they want to buy new electronic equipment with or without the supplied charger.

Which devices get a USB-C connection?

The EU states that the following small and medium-sized portable electronic devices must be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of manufacturer: Mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earphones, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, portable game consoles and portable speakers that require wired charging. Laptops will also have to meet the requirements 40 months after the new legislation comes into effect.

And what about fast charging?

Techniques for the fast charging of certain devices should be ‘️harmonised’, according to the European Parliament, so that users can charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger. This is possible via the USB Power Delivery protocol that Google has already made mandatory for new phones in 2019. In this way, third-party chargers with the USB-PD standard can work properly on phones that use their own fast charging technology.

Apple is the biggest opponent of a universal standard. Mandatory switching to USB-C would, according to the company, cause an ‘unparalleled amount of electronic waste’. Most iPhones have a Lightning connector and accompanying charger. Apple already uses USB-C for its iPads and MacBooks. In addition, the mandatory use of USB-C would hinder technological progress.

Do you have a phone that supports fast charging? In this article you will find out which charger is the best to buy. In this article we explain how you can extend the life of the battery.

What do you think of the new European rules on the obligation of the USB-C port for devices? Let us know in the comments below this article.