We now have the official start date for the EU’s new “Common Charger” directive because it has been published in the Official Journal.
Every phone, tablet, camera, set of earbuds, headset, portable speaker, e-reader, keyboard, mouse, and portable navigation system marketed in the EU as of December 28, 2024, will need to include a USB Type-C connector.
Incorporating USB Power Delivery is also necessary if the charging rate exceeds 15W.
As has been extensively reported in the media ever since the regulation was merely a notion, this will certainly have an impact on Apple. However, other device manufacturers will also need to assure USB-PD compatibility if their goods are capable of charging at rates more than 15W. Furthermore, as this rule only applies to wired charging, Apple might choose to do away with the charging connector entirely from their iPhones and rely solely on wireless charging.
That wouldn’t put it in violation of these rules, and it’s a move that has already been widely rumored.
The same restrictions on using USB Type-C will also apply to laptops starting on April 28, 2026.
The next stage is for EU member states to enact and publish the laws, rules, and administrative requirements required to comply with this directive by December 28, 2023.
