Even if it has already been well underway recently by manufacturers, it is a major change that is expected by next year. All our portable devices, whether a smartphone, a GPS, a wireless headset or even a laptop PC, will need to benefit from a universal USB-C charger.
Goodbye to the charger with proprietary connectivity: in France, the universal USB-C charger will now be mandatory for all portable devices. In addition, manufacturers will have to allow users to acquire, via a separate sale, the charger “and indicate it using a pictogram”, explains the Ministry of the Economy.
In addition, it is the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) which will have the mission of ensuring that manufacturers play the game well.
Universal USB-C charger becomes standard on all portable devices
The decree, published in the official journal on December 27, 2023, implies that all smartphones must benefit from a USB-C charging port from December 28, 2024. The decree is based on European Union directive 2022/2380 of November 23, 2022, which had the effect of pushing Apple to integrate USB-C on its iPhones. An obligation that the Apple brand preferred to anticipate, since its recent iPhone 15s all use a USB-C port.
This obligation will not stop at just smartphones: all small and medium-sized portable devices are concerned. Here is the list:
- mobile phones and smartphones
- tablets
- cameras
- headphones and earphones
- game consoles
- speakers
- e-readers
- keyboards
- mouse
- portable navigation systems
Laptop manufacturers will benefit from a small reprieve, then the entry into force will not take place until April 26, 2026. This regulation is part of a concern for comfort and practicality for users, but also for ecology. The Ministry of the Economy explains that, “thanks to this measure, 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste will be avoided each year according to the European Commission, a concrete step forward in reducing Europe’s environmental footprint.”
And for those who are worried about the charging power of the USB-C port compared to a proprietary model (as we still find on laptop PCs), the EU recalled in its 2022 directive that “the USB Implementers Forum has developed an updated version of the USB Power Supply specification to support power ratings of up to 240 Watts.”
Source: Ministry of the Economy