In a move that’s somewhat been hailed as a victory for consumer convenience and sustainability, the European Council has approved a directive that will require all new devices sold in the EU to use USB-C as a standard charging port. This means change for many companies, including Apple, which has already swapped iPhone over to USB-C from Apple’s proprietary Lightning chargers.
A Brief History of the Directive
The EU’s USB-C directive has been in the works for some time, with the aim of reducing electronic waste and making life easier for consumers. The directive was approved by the European Parliament in June 2022 and today comes into force across the EU.
All small and medium-sized portable devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, e-readers, handheld gaming consoles) sold in the EU must have a USB-C charging port. There is no requirement for the manufacturer to include a cable or charger with a product. But if a cable is included, it must have at least one USB-C connection on it.
There is no requirement for gadget manufacturers to include a particular type of charger either. This means USB-A plugs will continue to be allowed. I would imagine that, over time, these will become less popular as we generally move towards USB-C as the accepted standard. This is specifically why I took particular interest in the recent video that showed new charging ports on Dart+ in Dublin.
Laptops are also included as part of the EU directive, but these devices have a longer transition period with an extra year to transition. I don’t think many modern laptops still use proprietary connections, but I, for one, am glad to know this will be a thing of the past.
Exceptions to the EU’s USB-C Directive
Prior to writing this article, I took a look around to see what I have that doesn’t use USB-C already. Those devices are, today, few and far between. However, my relatively new Garmin Forerunner 255 Music did get me thinking.
The charging cable that came with this smartwatch, which I only bought in the past two months, had no USB-C connection. The watch itself is from 2022, so it is “new” but only “new” to me. The watch came without a charger and included one charging cable. On one end was USB-A and the other is a proprietary Garmin connection.
So, what happens here?
Well, the EU has baked in various exceptions to the forced adoption of USB-C and Garmin will fall under several of these. Typically, these will be devices where including a USB-C port is physically impossible; like smartwatches and other fitness trackers.
If devices use proprietary connections to offer enhanced features such as heightened waterproofness or faster data transfer, not achievable with USB-C, they may also be eligible for an exemption.
Naturally, if a device charges solely with wireless charging, like the Apple Watch, the watch itself will not require a USB-C port. However, the charger that is provided with it, will.
I’m completely aware that the USB-C standard isn’t perfect. Functionality is lost and hidden in this seemingly universal, but always slightly different standard. But this is a definite step in the right direction towards reducing e-waste, and that can only be a good thing.
This article was created with the support of Goosed.ie’s in-house AI-assisted writing tool, designed to aid our writers, not replace them. While the tool offers outlines and context, all content is crafted and edited by the Goosed team.
