According to Brexit, the UK does not need to comply with the new rule, although under the current post-Brexit agreement, the regulation will remain in force in Northern Ireland, as it remains within the EU’s single market for goods. Critics of the regulation have said it will stifle innovation, despite the benefits of reducing e-waste. A spokesman for the UK government told the BBC “we are not considering repeating this demand at this time”. HOME STORY 22/08/06: By the fall of 2024, all portable electronic devices sold in the EU should use USB Type-C for charging. The European Commission announced plans for this last year and has now issued a press release confirming the 2024 deadline. The goal is to reduce e-waste and make it more consumer-friendly by having only one “common charger”. Eurogamer Newscast: Will we sign up for the PlayStation Plus Premium and how is the Xbox coping with the loss of Starfield this year? “Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charger and cable each time they purchase a new device and can use a single charger for all their small and medium-sized portable electronics,” the press release said. “Charging speed is also harmonized for devices that support fast charging, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed as any compatible charger.” The new rules will affect phones, tablets, e-readers, headphones, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, portable video game consoles and rechargeable portable speakers. Laptops should also use USB-C, although an additional 40 months is added to the fall 2024 deadline. Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck consoles already use USB-C for charging. So Apple’s iPhones and iPads, which will no longer be able to use lightning cables, will have the biggest impact. That said, as its new devices can also be charged wirelessly, this could become the new standard.
