In the autumn of 2024, all portable electronic devices sold in the EU will have to use USB Type C to charge.
The European Commission has announced plans for the last year and has now issued a press release confirming the 2024 deadline.
The aim is to reduce e-waste and be more consumer-friendly with a single “common charger”.
Eurogamer Newscast: Will we subscribe to PlayStation Plus Premium and how will Xbox cope with the loss of Starfield this year?
“Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charging device and cable each time they purchase a new device, and they can use a single charger for all of their small and medium-sized portable electronic devices,” he says. the press release.
“Charging speed is also harmonized for devices that support fast charging, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed as any compatible charger.”
The new rules will affect phones, tablets, e-readers, headphones, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, portable video game consoles, and rechargeable portable speakers.
Laptops will also need to use USB-C, although an additional 40 months will be added to the fall 2024 deadline.
Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck consoles already use USB-C to charge.
The biggest impact, then, will be Apple’s iPhones and iPads, which will no longer be able to use lightning cables. That said, since your new devices can also be charged wirelessly, this could become the new standard.