New EU regulations requiring a standard charger for laptops come into effect today. As a result, every new laptop sold within the European Union must now include support for USB-C charging.
The rules had already been introduced in December 2024 for devices such as mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, video game consoles, and portable speakers, reports RTE.
Manufacturers of laptops were granted additional time to adapt, allowing them to redesign products and transition smoothly to the unified charging standard.
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The EU’s Common Charger Directive has effectively eliminated the need for consumers to maintain multiple types of chargers for different devices, reports RTE.
The European Parliament gave its approval to the legislation in 2022, and at the time, the European Commission projected that consumers could save approximately €250 million as a result.
The directive also guarantees consistent charging speeds when compatible chargers are used, reports RTE.
These measures aim to lessen the environmental impact linked to both the manufacture and disposal of charging equipment.
According to the EU, unused and discarded chargers contribute roughly 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste each year, reports RTE.
In anticipation of the directive taking effect, Apple transitioned from its proprietary ‘Lightning’ ports to a universal USB-C charging system on its latest iPhone models in 2023.
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