Standard charging plug for cell phone, headphones and digital camera
Published: Sunday, Dec 22nd 2024, 14:50
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Shortly after Christmas, most new electrical devices sold in the European Union will have a standardized plug. The USB-C charging plug will then become the standard for smartphones, tablets and other electrical devices throughout the EU. USB-C is also the new standard charging solution in Switzerland.
TO WHICH DEVICES DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?
For all new cell phones, tablets and digital cameras. They should all be able to be charged via the USB-C charging plug. This also applies to loudspeaker boxes, headphones, portable navigation systems, mice and printers. From spring 2026, all new laptops will also have the standard charging plug.
Other connectors that have been commonly used up to now, such as the older micro USB connector and the Lightning connector for iPhones, are no longer required under the new directive. Switzerland adopted the EU directive. The Federal Council adopted the revision of the Telecommunications Ordinance in November 2023. It has been in force since this year.
WHAT WILL CHANGE FOR CONSUMERS?
Ideally, consumers will be able to charge all their devices with the same cable in future. "This is also a victory for consumer protection against the tech giants," emphasized Anna Cavazzini (Greens), Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee in the European Parliament. "At the same time, less cable clutter in the technology drawer means, above all, massively less resource consumption in the EU," she added, referring to valuable raw materials in the chargers.
New devices should also always be offered without an enclosed charger under the directive. Manufacturers must state on the packaging what power the device requires for charging and whether it supports fast charging.
HOW DO THE MANUFACTURERS REACT?
Apple has adapted to the regulations with the iPhone models 15 and 16, after the US company initially resisted following the EU's provisional agreement last year. The company had criticized that the law would stifle innovations such as wireless charging.
Numerous newer devices can be charged completely without a cable, but currently still with a longer charging time. However, even devices with a wireless charging function must always have a USB-C port under EU regulations.
WHY IS THE DIRECTIVE ONLY COMING NOW?
The EU institutions have been working on a uniform regulation for chargers for over 15 years. The Commission first agreed on uniform standards with most manufacturers in a declaration of intent in 2009. However, these were not binding and Apple did not participate.
The agreement expired in 2014. The industry did not submit a new proposal until 2018, but the manufacturers did not satisfy the EU Commission. The European Parliament therefore also repeatedly called for legal intervention. With the current directive, Apple must also comply with the standardized plugs.
WHAT DOES THE EU COMMISSION WANT TO ACHIEVE?
The new requirements are intended to reduce electrical waste in the EU by almost 1000 tons per year and save thousands of tons of CO2. Above all, the Commission expects consumers to use their cables for longer and buy fewer chargers. So far, they have been spending a total of around 250 million euros a year on chargers that are not actually needed.
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