Laptops sold in the EU now required to ship with USB-C charging Comments
- AntiPlannedObsolesce
- asx
Leanzazzy, 30 Apr 2026Universal USB-C charging: Good
Not shipping chargers in the box: Bad
If someone is spendin... moreYou can just order a laptop with a charger you know.
Also recycling is a waste of time and energy.
- potato4k
- raP
TD070VA1, 30 Apr 2026Not all? I mean I have an 8-year old laptop with a USB-C port that is advertised for up to 15 ... moreWho said anything about your 8 year old laptop? I said CURRENT.
- Hello
- vG2
Thing which most people dont understand is Type-C is generally soldered on to the motherboard. And due to wear and tear, it will eventually go down. And when it does, almost everyone will make you change the motherboard instead of the type c port, because changing it is a very highly skilled job and costs alot. Thinkpads are plagued with this.
The round barrel port or even the square slim tip ones are far better and durable because of being modular.
- jinxthesloth
- 7tN
Leanzazzy, 30 Apr 2026Universal USB-C charging: Good Not shipping chargers in the box: Bad If someone is spendin... moreWho the hell uses a thunderbolt 5 cable for purely charging, lol. Thunderbolt 5 cable supporting 240W is just a nice QoL feature when its foremost intended purpose is for data transfer. I would love to meet that guy.
- TD070VA1
- B4X
potato4k, 30 Apr 2026Don't all current laptops (except high wattage ones) with a USB-C port already capable of... moreNot all? I mean I have an 8-year old laptop with a USB-C port that is advertised for up to 15 W output only. Not sure with input. Not sure whether it's worth the risk trying to blast 65 W to it (likely won't break as there won't be any USB PD negotiations).
- TD070VA1
- B4X
Despite the mandates I would still suggest getting the original charger as a backup in case your 240W or whatever daily goes bust.
Pro tip: from my experience, third-party budget 65W USB PD chargers emit a lot of heat. Not suggested for outdoor use.
- TD070VA1
- B4X
Leanzazzy, 30 Apr 2026Universal USB-C charging: Good
Not shipping chargers in the box: Bad
If someone is spendin... more"In addition, laptop manufacturers are also required to offer an "unbundled" packaging option for their devices, which essentially means selling laptops without a charger."
So the charger is an option. They can bundle chargers with laptops for a lower price compared to when purchased separately. The point is not to be forced a charger with every new laptop.
- Leanzazzy
- IWR
Universal USB-C charging: Good
Not shipping chargers in the box: Bad
If someone is spending a lot of money on a new device ESPECIALLY a laptop, you can bet your honey he needs a new, capable charger with it.
Don't be one of those bell-ends who says, "Oh I have a single ThunderBolt 5 cable with 240W etc". If you can afford the latest and greatest ThunderBolt cable, you obviously aren't in this conversation because you can afford getting ripped off.
The overwhelming majority of people DON'T have any of that and upgrade their phones only every 5 years and laptops probably every 10 years, so they absolutely do not have any capable USB-C charger lying about and do need it in order to actually have a charger that's capable of charging their device quickly, efficiently and in a reasonable time frame.
Don't give us all this BS about pretending to care about the environment.
If the EU(or anyone else) really cares about the environment, they could offer trade-in programs which recycle old phones and chargers in exchange for a discount on the newer model. That way everyone is happy. The consumer gives up the old e-waste, the companies get to recycle it(so it doesn't end up in a landfill) and the customer gets both a discount on the new item and something actually capable of charging.
This whole nonsense of shifting the blame to the consumer is just another tactic by companies to shirk responsibility. By guilt-tripping and shaming you, they are effectively ripping you off by selling you less while charging you more for it.
- Anonymous
- vaS
Hills od, 29 Apr 2026The "unbundled" part is kinda dvmb cos you're telling them to remove chargers w... moreThese leaders love to talk about environment but then they commit acts which are not allowed to be discussed here and the environmental damage is way more than what 100 people drinking from plastic straws will cause.
- Cpt.Power
- 0p}
PatrickCzech, 29 Apr 2026Well Apple, Lenovo and Dell already sells laptops without charging bricks. Well my gaming Lenovo had it but i bough it almost 5 years ago.
- KarlKastor
- H4k
Anonymous, 29 Apr 2026Next we need to push for USB-C for 240W and belowExactly that is what is in place right now. Don't know why GSM writes it is restricted to 100 W and below.
Even if a device draws more than 240 W, it has to be able to be charged via USB-C. An additional jack with higher power is permitted though.
- potato4k
- raP
Don't all current laptops (except high wattage ones) with a USB-C port already capable of being charged via USB-C? I mean even my 5 year old laptop can be charged through USB-C, although it came with a traditional barrel charger. I doubt this is a big deal. And I'm sure manufacturers are rejoicing that they now can sell their power adapters separately to new users.
- jiyen235
- XNA
that's good, but i wonder how many dont have this already? cus i've seen fairly cheap laptops with this spec.
- xPandamon
- JHj
Hills od, 29 Apr 2026The "unbundled" part is kinda dvmb cos you're telling them to remove chargers w... moreThey are not telling them to remove the chargers, but to give an option to buy it without the charger. Should be slightly cheaper and for the majority of people, that extra charge isn't needed. My Thinkpad as an example came with a USB-C charger that I simply do not need, nor do I need the one from my Ally X. It all charges over my 65 Watt phone charger already.. Two chargers that I would've unticked from the order process
- Anonymous
- pYd
Next we need to push for USB-C for 240W and below
- Bazinga
- AAr
earworm, 29 Apr 2026I'd be fine with barrel jacks sticking around for laptops personally. Having a standard f... moreAs low, medium office laptops under 2k euros I agree. In my opinion paying 1500 euros and 3500 and more just for laptop makes a big difference. Of course You know office laptops uses 100 and lower for charging. My current Asus gaming laptop uses 250w carger
- Hills od
- XBF
The "unbundled" part is kinda dvmb cos you're telling them to remove chargers when users will still end up buying the same charger in the market after the old one spoils or when it doesn't give them what they want?.
Pol!tics, I don't like, cos this ain't for any good of the planet
- earworm
- 39m
I'd be fine with barrel jacks sticking around for laptops personally. Having a standard for them would be nice though.
- Bazinga
- AAr
Eddisson, 29 Apr 2026Finally. But I'm afraid we'll end up like with smartphones without chargers - gettin... moreMost electronic goes that path.. But tell a gamer who pays 3k euro and up that he needs to pay 200 euro more just to be able to use his laptop..
- jason
- sv9
good, there is no need for endless cables and chargers, I bought a single plug that offered 170w of power across 4 ports, 3 USB-C, and 1 USB-A.
Alongside this I have a single thunderblt 5 cable, and other then this I use the stock cables I have laying around from various devices. you could easily get rid of the cable as well, and make it an optional free add on at the time of purchase.
