USB-C charging connector (charging port) required for laptops
As of April 28, 2026, new EU rules regarding laptop charging ports apply.
You may have already heard: the European Union has fundamentally changed the rules regarding laptop charging. What previously applied to smartphones, tablets, and other small devices such as headphones, earbuds, speakers, etc., will also apply to laptops as of April 28, 2026. The USB-C connection is the new standard, and this naturally has consequences for manufacturers, retailers, and you.
In this article, we explain exactly what is changing, why the EU has decided this, and, more importantly, what this means for you and your current and future laptop(s).
What exactly is changing?
The new regulations consist of two concrete obligations that apply to all new laptops that from
be placed on the European market on April 28, 2026:
Rule 1
Charging via USB-C is mandatory: every new laptop must be rechargeable via a USB-C charging port. Other charging ports (such as 'proprietary connectors' or 'MagSafe') may still be present, but the manufacturer must then install a second charging port—a USB-C port, that is. It is expected that most manufacturers will switch entirely to the USB-C connection.
Rule 2
The ability to buy a laptop without a charger.
Manufacturers must offer consumers the option to purchase a laptop without a charger. Since it is not commercially practical to offer two variants of the same product, it is expected that a large proportion of new laptops will therefore be delivered without a charger as standard.
So: one connector for everything
USB-C is already the standard for charging smartphones, tablets, and other small devices such as headphones, earbuds, speakers, etc. From April 28, 2026, it will therefore also become the mandatory standard for laptops. For you, this means: in principle, one charger for all your devices.
Why is the EU doing this?
In short: less waste and more convenience. The EU wants to reduce the large number of unused chargers (that no longer fit due to a 'wrong' connector). By mandating USB-C as a universal standard, consumers no longer have to purchase a new charger for every new device.
How do you know which charger a laptop needs?
From April 28, 2026, manufacturers are required to place a standardized label with the charging specifications on every new laptop; this label shows two numbers:
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Minimum wattage (XX W): the minimum power that a charger must be able to deliver to charge the laptop at all;
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Maximum wattage (YY W): the power required to achieve the maximum charging speed.
If the laptop supports USB Power Delivery, this is also indicated on the label as "USB PD". This label is the quickest way to see which charger is suitable for a laptop.
Please note: these mandatory rules only apply to new laptops released after April 28, 2026. If you purchased a laptop before April 28, 2026, it can only be charged via USB-C if the laptop already has a suitable charging port (USB-C) for this. Always check the device specifications, as not every USB-C port on a laptop is suitable for charging the laptop.
Which charger do you need?
Most laptops fall into two categories: lighter models that are sufficient with 65W, and heavier laptops that require up to 100W. With a 65W and a 100W USB-C charger in your range, you cover the majority of the market.
Gaming laptops are an exception: they can require up to 240W and sometimes more!
USB-C (via USB PD) supports a maximum of 240W, but in practice, there are currently few USB-C chargers on the market with more than 100W. This is because manufacturers are still looking for a good solution for the heaviest models.
We at JPR-Webshop already have the new USB-C chargers in our webshop.
We have USB-C chargers available with a power output of 65W or 100W that can power the vast majority of laptops released on the market. Compact, reliable, and immediately available via the JPR Webshop:
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The 65W charger can supply sufficient power for 'ordinary', 'standard' laptops. That is the vast majority of laptops used for daily use.
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The 100W charger is for the more powerful laptops. However, it is not a problem to use a 100W charger for a 'regular' laptop that would be fine with a 65W charger; the reverse is true, though: a 65W charger is simply not powerful enough to provide sufficient power to a laptop that requires a 100W charger.
So one charger for all laptops, tablets, and smartphones, finally!
And they are also immediately available at the JPR Webshop.