Starting April 28, 2026, a new rule for laptops will come into effect in the European Union. In the future, all newly sold devices must be able to be charged via USB-C. The basis is the EU Directive 2022/2380 on the uniform charging port.
Charger No Longer Included? This Will Change for Laptops Starting in 2026
Heute, 08:46
From April 28, 2026, a new EU directive for laptops will apply. USB-C will become mandatory. What changes for buyers, why chargers may be missing, and when additional costs may arise.
For many buyers, this means an adjustment. Because while the port is standardized, another question remains open: Is the charger even included anymore?
Uniform Port Becomes Mandatory
The new directive stipulates that all laptops with wired charging functionality must have a USB-C port. The goal is a uniform standard so that chargers from different manufacturers are compatible.
For devices with a charging power over 15 watts, an additional requirement applies: They must support the fast charging standard USB Power Delivery. This is to ensure that more powerful notebooks can be reliably charged.
The longer transition period for laptops is explained by technical requirements. While smartphones have been subject to the rule since December 28, 2024, manufacturers had more than three years to adapt for notebooks.
Charger Not Mandatory
Crucial for buyers: The EU does not prohibit chargers. Manufacturers may continue to sell devices including a power adapter.
However, a new requirement applies to sales: If a laptop is offered with a charger, there must also be a variant without a power adapter. This so-called unbundling is intended to reduce electronic waste.
The packaging must clearly show in the future:
- ob ein Ladegerät enthalten ist
- welche Ladeleistung unterstützt wird
Whether devices without a power adapter will actually become the standard is not regulated. According to the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera," many manufacturers consider parallel variants to be complex and costly.
Laptops Possibly More Expensive
The impact depends heavily on the user.
Those who already own powerful USB-C chargers can save in the future. A power adapter will no longer need to be purchased necessarily.
It is different for buyers without suitable accessories. Modern laptops usually require:
- mindestens 65 Watt
- oft 90 bis 100 Watt bei leistungsstärkeren Modellen
According to market observation, such USB-C power adapters often cost 40 to 50 euros or more. This means the actual purchase price can increase if no charger is included.
EU Responds to Charging Chaos
The rule is part of a development that has been ongoing for years. As early as the 2010s, the EU Commission criticized the multitude of different charging connectors.
The then Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager stated, according to "Corriere della Sera", that consumers have been frustrated for years with incompatible chargers.
The aim of the directive is not only comfort but also sustainability. Fewer different chargers should reduce electronic waste in the long term.
Special Case: Gaming Laptops
Despite new regulations, exceptions remain possible in practice. The EU does not mandate that USB-C must be the only charging connector.
Devices are allowed to retain additional, proprietary connectors. This mainly affects gaming notebooks:
- Diese benötigen oft mehr als 240 Watt Leistung
- USB-C reicht für maximale Leistung nicht immer aus
Many models therefore continue to use a combination of USB-C for everyday use and a separate high-performance power supply for intensive applications.
(Ed.)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article .
