If you thought the charger chaos was just a phone problem, get ready. The laptop industry is about to undergo its biggest connectivity transformation in decadesand it is not by decision of Apple, Microsoft or any other technology company. It is the European Union that rules, and its new regulations already have a deadline: April 28, 2026.
Just as it happened with smartphones, where USB-C ended years of proprietary and incompatible connectors, now it’s laptops’ turn. The change is not optional. It is not a recommendation. It is a law that all manufacturers must abide by if they want to sell their products in European territory.and that, inevitably, is going to shape the entire global industry, just as it did with iPhones.
The European regulations that change everything
Everything comes from EU Directive 2022/2380approved by the European Parliament in October 2022 with an overwhelming majority of 602 votes in favor, 13 against and 8 abstentions. This directive established a phased plan to unify charging standards across virtually all electronic devices on the market.
The first phase has already entered into force: From December 28, 2024, all mobile phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, e-books, mice, keyboards, portable consoles and speakers sold in the EU must have a USB-C port. By that time, manufacturers already had two years of margin to adapt. Now, the second phase enters the scene with a more ambitious goal: laptops.
From April 28, 2026any laptop that wants to be on the shelves of a European store must be able to charge via USB-C. And not only have the port as a decorative accessory: if the device has a charging power greater than 15 W, it must also be compatible with the standard USB Energy Shipping. There are no exceptions. Not even for proprietary connectors like the iconic Apple MagSafe.
The end of in-box chargers and the blow to proprietary connectors
Here comes the part that will hurt more than one person’s pocket. With the new regulations, manufacturers They will not be required to include the charger in the product box.. We already experienced it with iPhones and some Androids: first it was an “ecological” decision by each company, but now the EU formalizes it so that the consumer can choose if they want to pay for it or use the one they already have at home.
On paper, that sounds good: if you already have a compatible USB-C charger, you don’t need another one. The problem is that this can also become additional business for manufacturers.which could sell the charger as a top class accessory separately. Be careful with that.
The most symbolic impact, without a doubt, is that suffered by proprietary connectors. For years, companies like Apple used their own charging systems as a differentiating argumentand in some cases as a source of additional income. The MagSafe, the barrel connector of many high-end Dwelling Windows laptops, and other similar connectors will have to coexist with USB-C or disappear altogether in the new models for Europe.
The global market is watching this movement closely. What happens in Europe does not usually stay only in Europe: in practice, many manufacturers prefer unify your product line globally rather than maintaining different versions by region. That’s how it was with mobile phones, and everything indicates that the same thing will happen with laptops.
Why Europe made this decision and what comes next
Behind all this regulation there is an argument that goes beyond user comfort: electronic waste. According to estimates by the European Commission, the previous system – with USB Micro-B, USB-C and Lightning coexisting on the market – generated up to 11,000 tons of electronic waste per year. Useless cables, chargers that only work with a specific model, accessories that become obsolete with each device change. All of this has a huge cost to the environment.
The regulations also seeks to directly benefit the consumer’s pocket. The European Commission estimates that users could collectively save up to $300 million dollars a year by not having to buy new chargers every time they change devices. A not inconsiderable number.
And things don’t stop here. The EU is already looking at the next step: Starting in 2028, all external chargers sold in the European market must also have a USB-C portregardless of the device they are intended for. In addition, they must have detachable cables and meet strict energy efficiency requirements, especially in standby mode. There is even talk of a unified european tag to identify certified chargers, something similar to what already exists with energy ratings on household appliances.
In short: what is happening with laptops is just one more link in a chain of changes that the European Union has been building for years with a clear vision. Less cables, less junk, more compatibility and more administration for the consumer. The industry can complain, it can negotiate, but ultimately it will have to adapt. Just like what happened with cell phones. And in retrospect, no one can deny that this change was necessary.
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