This measure, resulting from Directive 2022/2380, concludes a transition period of more than three years granted to manufacturers and aims to eradicate the accumulation of incompatible chargers, standardising the charging interface for electronic devices.

Applied to other devices

The new legislation, which has already transformed the smartphone and tablet market, is now focusing on laptops, whose adaptation was technically more complex due to their power requirements.

Although the standard promotes physical interoperability, the European legislator warns of an important technical nuance: not all USB-C chargers are the same. While a mobile phone charger typically delivers between 20 and 30 watts, a laptop requires at least 65 watts, with high-performance models potentially needing 90 to 100 watts. This means that, despite the connector being identical, many users will have to invest in more powerful chargers, priced between €40 and €50.

Equipment marketing

Another significant change lies in the way the equipment is marketed: the directive stipulates that there must always be the option to purchase the equipment without the charger included. This strategy aims to reduce electronic waste by leveraging the fact that many consumers already own compatible adapters.

With this final step, the European Union improves the user experience and drives industry-wide change, replacing proprietary systems and cylindrical connectors with a universal, more sustainable solution.