charging cable
Smartphones must have a standard charging socket from 2024
No more tangled cables: from 2024, USB-C should be the uniform charging standard in the EU. photo
© Jens Büttner/dpa
Less cable clutter, lower costs: in the future, electronic devices such as mobile phones, headphones and digital cameras must be able to be charged using the same cable. The industry is critical.
The uniform charging standard USB-C for smartphones and other devices in the European Union is coming. The Council of EU States gave final approval for the new regulation, which will apply from autumn 2024.
“One charger that is suitable for several devices saves money and time and also helps us avoid e-waste,” said Czech Industry Minister Jozef Sikela on behalf of the current EU Council Presidency. “We all have at least three chargers for our cell phones at home. Finding the right charger, either at home or at work, can be quite annoying.”
In addition to smartphones, tablets, e-readers, digital cameras, headphones, portable speakers and keyboards are also subject to the new rules. For laptops, the requirements that negotiators from the EU states and the European Parliament agreed on in June will apply from spring 2026.
Critics: Law slows down innovation
In the future, it should be clear when purchasing whether a device is being sold with or without a charger. In addition, special labels should make it clear whether existing chargers are compatible with the device. According to the EU Parliament, the new guidelines should result in consumers in the EU saving 250 million euros per year because unnecessary charger purchases are avoided.
The EU Commission is also to work on a uniform standard for wireless charging in the future. Critics complain that the new law slows down innovation, for example when it comes to charging times or data transmission. It runs counter to openness to technology.
The uniform charging standard in Europe has been under discussion for a long time. Initially, the EU Commission relied on voluntary cooperation between industry – albeit with little success. In 2009, 14 mobile phone manufacturers – including Apple – under pressure from the Brussels authorities agreed to a uniform standard for power supplies in a self-commitment.
However, when it comes to the sockets in smartphones and tablet computers, three of what used to be several dozen types remain: the now outdated micro-USB, the newer USB-C and the thinner Lightning connectors from Apple. In September 2021, the EU Commission then presented a legislative proposal for USB-C as the standard for the sockets in the devices.
Communication from the Council of EU States