USB-C becomes standard: uniform charging cables for cell phones, cameras and consoles become mandatory

Almost everyone has a drawer at home full of old power supplies and charging cables. There should no longer be such accumulations of electronic waste in the future.

Uniform charging cables for all cell phones, tablets and game consoles will also be mandatory in Germany at the end of the year. On Friday, the Federal Council approved changes to the Radio Equipment Act, thereby clearing the way for this standardization. Germany is thus implementing an EU directive.

USB-C will become the standard for charging smartphones, digital cameras, headphones, e-readers or navigation devices at the end of the year. From 2026 this will also apply to laptops. This technical standardization is intended to relieve people’s financial burden and at the same time avoid unnecessary electronic waste. Devices can now also be sold without a new power supply.