European Union officials agreed Tuesday on new rules requiring a uniform charging cord for smartphones and other devices, a move that would make life easier for consumers fed up with rummaging through a tangle of cables for the right one.
The devices covered include mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers.
Laptops also are covered, but manufacturers will have extra time to comply.
The E.U. rules also outline standards for fast charging technology and give consumers the right to choose whether to buy new devices with or without a charger, which the E.U. estimates will save consumers 250 million euros a year.
Reducing electronic waste is another goal.
The European Parliament and European Council are expected to give formal approval to the agreement after the summer break.
STORYTELLME Junior Technician
