Overview
- The EU rule, which took effect Tuesday, requires all new laptops sold in the bloc to be chargeable via a USB‑C port.
- Manufacturers must offer versions without a power adapter, with box pictograms that show if a charger is included and the wattage the laptop needs.
- Many phone chargers and thin USB‑C cables will not work for laptops, which typically need USB Power Delivery adapters of 65 to 100 watts and matching high‑capacity cables.
- The obligation covers mobile computers up to 240 watts, with exemptions for higher‑draw gaming models, fully wireless‑charged devices, and routers.
- Products already on the market do not need retrofitting, and EU estimates suggest harmonisation could cut about 11,000 tonnes of charger waste a year and save consumers around €250 million.