Your New Laptop Might Not Come with a Charger. Here's Why.

You order a new laptop. It arrives. You open the box.

No power supply. No charger. In some cases, not even a USB-C cable.

For businesses rolling out new devices, this could quickly become an unexpected problem.

But it isn't necessarily a packing mistake.

Changes to EU common charger rules are changing the way laptops and charging equipment are supplied across Europe.

What Changed in April 2026?

From 28 April 2026, the EU's Common Charger Directive was extended to laptops. The aim is to standardise charging around USB-C, reduce the number of unnecessary chargers being produced and cut electronic waste.

According to the European Commission, discarded and unused chargers account for around 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year, and the new rules are expected to save consumers approximately €250 million annually on unnecessary charger purchases.

As part of the changes, customers must be given the option to purchase covered devices without a charging device.

For businesses, this creates a new consideration: Does the laptop you're ordering actually include everything you need to power it?

Don't Assume a Charger Is in the Box

Traditionally, ordering a business laptop meant the power supply was included.

That assumption can no longer be made.

As manufacturers adjust to the new EU requirements, laptops are increasingly being supplied without a power supply or charging cable as standard.

For an individual buying one laptop, this may be a minor inconvenience. For an IT team deploying 20, 50 or 100 devices, it's a very different problem.

Imagine preparing a laptop rollout only to discover the devices have arrived without the correct chargers.

USB-C Doesn't Mean Every Charger Is the Same

Another important point: a USB-C connection alone doesn't guarantee a charger is suitable for every laptop.

Different laptops have different power requirements. A charger designed for a phone or tablet may use the same USB-C connection but may not provide the wattage required to properly power or charge a business laptop.

The cable matters too. USB-C cables support different power capabilities, meaning an unsuitable cable may limit charging performance even when paired with the correct adapter.

For businesses, matching the correct charger and cable to the device is increasingly important.

A Small Detail That Can Disrupt a Large Rollout

The move towards common charging has clear benefits. Fewer unnecessary chargers. Less electronic waste. Greater compatibility between devices.

But businesses still need to plan for the practical impact. Before ordering new laptops, IT teams should check:

It's a small detail, but one that's much easier to solve before the devices arrive.