New EU rules on charging standards have come into force — details

Starting Saturday, December 28, all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold in the EU must be compatible with USB-C ports. The requirement applies to tablets, smartphones, cameras, headphones, game consoles, and other devices.

This was reported by Euronews.

What is standardization all about?

In 2022, the European Parliament and member states voted to abolish other charging methods. This meant that all small and medium-sized portable devices sold in the EU must be compatible with USB-C ports.

Under EU rules, customers can also opt out of receiving a new charger with every device they buy.

From April 28, 2026, the same rules will apply to laptop manufacturers.

In a press statement, Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, said this "marks a decisive step towards consumer convenience and environmental responsibility".

"These rules aim to tackle the tons of waste generated by discarded chargers every year and save approximately €250 million for EU households by eliminating unnecessary purchases of chargers every year," Cavazzini added.

The Parliament said it would "closely monitor" how manufacturers adapt to these changes.

Electronic device manufacturers have long resisted EU attempts to standardize charging technologies. The decision will affect all manufacturers, but most of all Apple, which initially challenged the rules, citing concerns about innovation.

What else will change with the new directive

Another detail that few people talk about is the unification of fast charging, as iTechua writes.

The European Union is trying to resolve this confusion caused by a variety of standards. As a standard, anything that can be charged with a voltage of more than 5 volts, a current of more than 3 amps, or a power of more than 15 watts must support USB Power Delivery (USB PD). In other words, your device needs to be compatible with this universal protocol if it wants "fast charging". The iPhone, Google Pixel, and other brands have been using USB PD for a long time, but some, like OPPO and OnePlus, have gotten used to their proprietary rules. Accordingly, they now need to adapt.

This rule is intended to provide maximum charging versatility. You will be able to charge your device with any charger without losing charging speed. The primary objective is to ensure USB PD operates seamlessly without disrupting other protocols.

This may seem a bit confusing to customers at first. However, standardizing charging will be useful when old devices are gradually replaced by new ones. The European Union is also installing a special indicator that shows whether the charging unit is on and explains which charging functions the device supports. It will look like this:

• "XX" will mean the minimum power;
• "YY" indicates the maximum power;
• if USB PD is supported, this will also be indicated separately on the packaging.

In addition, it will now be possible to buy phones without chargers. Given that many people have a large collection of chargers at home, this should lead to a reduction in e-waste. For example, other companies are gradually adopting Apple's tradition of selling their devices without charging units. According to the European Commission, this method will help save millions of euros and reduce the burden on the environment.

They will manage the market and make sure that everyone follows the rules. Large companies like Apple and Samsung are clear that they will definitely follow them, but it can be more difficult to work with small producers or cheap foreign goods.

As a reminder, key phones remain relevant in the market, and continue to launch new models. They are suitable for those who are not ready to completely abandon their smartphones but want to find a backup communication device.

We also wrote that some users make basic mistakes when charging their smartphones, which can lead to battery degradation. You need to follow some rules to preserve your device's battery.