Europe approves smartphone charging standard

The European Parliament has almost unanimously voted that all smartphones sold in Europe must have a standard Type-C charging port by the end of 2024. 602 votes in favor of the standard, 12 against it, 8 abstentions — this is how the voting result looked like.

In addition to smartphones, the first phase of the bill also applies to tablets, photo and video cameras. From 2026, a Type-C charging connector will also become mandatory for laptops. It is expected that in the future the law will cover headphones, headsets and earbuds, portable speakers, keyboards and mice, portable game consoles, and navigation systems. And in general, all the tech that needs to be charged and operates with a power of less than 100 watts.

Now, when buying a new device, Europeans will have a choice — to purchase a charger with it or not. Standardization of charging ports will reduce the number of Type-C cables and power adapters needed, which will help nature. Less plastic, less waste.