Official: All new laptops must have USB-C to be sold in the EU; new "charger in the box" rules; exceptions for gaming laptops

[Redaktion]

The EU's common charger directive has officially expanded to include laptops as of April 28 2026. Following the expiration of a 16-month transition period, all new laptops sold in the European Union with a power rating of 100W or less must now support USB-C charging. This regulation aims to reduce environmental impact by cutting 11,000 tonnes of e-waste annually and saving consumers millions of euros.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Official-All-new-laptops-must-have-USB-C-to-be-sold-in-the-EU-new-charger-in-the-box-rules-exceptions-for-gaming-laptops.1286705.0.html

[Worgarthe]

What happens to chargers with a magnetic plug like the one of the Surface I'm typing on?

Absolutely nothing happens - it only needs to support USB‑C charging if it didn't already (which it does in your case). Having additional alternative/proprietary charging ports is fine, however this will prevent some OEMs from locking users into using ONLY their proprietary chargers without providing the ability to use USB‑C for charging on their sub-100W laptops.

[N.]

What happens to chargers with a magnetic plug like the one of the Surface I'm typing on?

Absolutely nothing happens - it only needs to support USB‑C charging if it didn't already (which it does in your case). Having additional alternative/proprietary charging ports is fine, however this will prevent some OEMs from locking users into using ONLY their proprietary chargers without providing the ability to use USB‑C for charging on their sub-100W laptops.

I can see how some (?) brands that like to increase their profit margin (which one doesn't?) would go round this minor inconvenience: they would provide usb-c charging, but let's say at 60W max, while the 'up to 2x faster' charging connector is available in the 'ultimate' configuration, that includes satin case for their proprietary, space-grade-rosewood-hand-chiselled-artisan charger for a low, one-off price of only 199.99 EUR. Extra.

[Matthew Kerr]

Mkat common issue I see is damaged USB C charge ports. These are usually soldered to the board, whereas barrel jack charge ports are easily removed. Manufacturers don't replace USB C ports and instead quote a replacement motherboard instead. This will only add more e-waste as the entire laptop will be written off as too expensive to repair due to motherboard being so expensive. People making these rules have no idea.

[will blake]

This will only add more e-waste

I agree. I'm not against universal standards but USB-C just isn't as durable. Not just talking ports either, the actual cables themselves often fail after a year or so of use and then need replacement.

To be fair, I don't think is necessarily anything specific which makes USB-C bad but more just a result on what happens when you try to miniturize parts and cables too far. They just can't take as much abuse as the thicker and older ones which where bigger.

I'm against this decision.