EU Switches to Single USB Charging Standard for Smartphones and Gadgets

As of today, USB-C has become the only standard type of charging for smartphones and small gadgets in the European Union, the European Commission reports on social media.

‘Today is the day. Welcome to THE charger! USB-C is officially the common standard for charging electronic devices in the EU,’ the post says.

According to the EC, this means that from now on, all new phones, tablets and cameras in the EU will be charged from the same device, which will reduce environmental pollution. ‘No more 'Sorry, I don’t have the right cable,' the commission added.

According to Euronews, in addition to smartphones, this regulatory requirement applies to tablets, cameras, headphones, game consoles, players and all other similar gadgets that must now be equipped with a Type-C port.

Laptop manufacturers still have time to prepare for the requirement: for large gadgets, this rule will be implemented on 28 April 2026.

‘These rules aim to tackle the tonnes of waste generated by discarded chargers and save approximately €250 million annually for EU households by eliminating unnecessary purchases of additional chargers,’ said Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

Thus, she said, it ‘marks a decisive step towards consumer convenience and environmental responsibility’.

The European Parliament, in turn, said it would ‘closely monitor’ how manufacturers adapt to these changes. According to the publication, electronic device manufacturers have long resisted EU attempts to standardise charging technologies.

Apple is withdrawing the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone SE 3 from its online store in most EU countries due to the entry into force of this law.