The mandatory introduction of the universal charger will be finally implemented in Europe from January 1st, but manufacturers of smartphones and other tablets have until December 28th, 2024 to comply with the European directive. For PCs it will be in 2026.
Smartphones, tablets and small electronic devices sold in Europe must all have the same charger – and therefore the same USB-C port. We can therefore charge an iPhone and a Samsung phone with the same charger.
African consumers should also benefit from the universal charger requirement. Depending on how many devices you own, the nightmare of collecting chargers is over.
According to the European Commission, thanks to the universal charger, 11,000 tons of electronic waste will be avoided every year, a concrete step forward in reducing Europe's ecological footprint.
The European directive generalizing the USB-C port and charger affects a large family of “radio devices” that go well beyond smartphones: mobile phones and smartphones, tablets, e-readers, wireless headsets and earphones, digital cameras, portable game consoles, GPS , keyboards and mice, and portable speakers, regardless of manufacturer. Some have anticipated the measure, such as Apple, which has long resisted due to its own standards and integrated a USB-C port in its latest smartphone model, the iPhone 15. We'll have to wait until 2026 for the laptop.
From James RamarosaonaCorrespondent – Madagascar