EU Sets Official Deadline For USB-C for wired charging

The European Union has given a deadline for manufacturers to adopt USB-C charging technology to sell electronic devices in the region. As of December 28, 2024, all new phones, tablets, and headphones will have to support wired charging. Devices that support wireless charging will not be affected.

The deadline for EU member states to publish regulations to regulate the bloc’s USB-C charging directive is December 28, 2023. They will have to apply those rules one year later. The EU had previously stated that the rules would be in force by 2024. It published the legislation in its Official Journal.

Verge points out that laptop makers will have to wait a little longer to follow the rules. If they still need to do so, they will need to upgrade to USB-C by April 2026. The EU also states that devices with fast charging support can charge at the same speed. Users can set their devices at the same rate with any compatible charger.

Apple said it would comply with EU rules and install USB-C charging ports on European iPhones. Although technically, Apple would only have to implement USB-C charging in iPhones in 2025, reports suggest that the company could make the change as early as next year.