Starting on Saturday, all small- and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold in the EU must be compatible with USB-C ports to address waste.
As of Saturday, EU consumers will no longer need a different charger for their smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, video game consoles and other devices, as USB Type-C charging ports are to become the standard for mobile tools across the bloc.
In 2022, the European Parliament and member states voted overwhelmingly in favour of scrapping alternative charging methods, meaning that all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold in the EU must be compatible with USB-C ports.
Under the EU rules, consumers can also opt out of receiving a new charger with each device they buy.
Laptop manufacturers will face the same rules as of 28 April 2026.
Anna Cavazzini, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, said in a press statement that this “marks a decisive step towards consumer convenience and environmental responsibility.”
“These rules are about tackling the tonnes of waste generated by discarded chargers each year and saving an estimated €250 million for EU households by eliminating unnecessary charger purchases each year,” Cavazzini added.
The Parliament said it will “closely monitor” how manufacturers adapt to these changes.
Electronic device manufacturers have resisted the EU’s push to standardise charging technologies for years.
The decision will affect all providers, but most of all, Apple, which initially contested the rules, cited innovation concerns. However, the Big Tech giant started complying with the directive and transitioned to USB-C for its appliances.
