USB-C REQUIREMENTS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES

As of 28 April 2026, a new requirement applies stating that computers must be supplied with USB-C charging. Mikael Herrala, Nordic key account manager for Verbatim, explains what this means in practice.

– The answer is simple: USB-C that is powerful enough to handle the computer’s capacity, Herrala tells the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen when we meet him at the end of April at Power’s training fair, PowerUp CE, at Gardermoen.

One consequence of the rule is that many computers will be supplied without a power cable. Herrala says many consumers already have chargers at home, and that this is also positive for the environment. At the same time, there is a strong possibility that these are not powerful enough, which represents an opportunity for retailers when customers need a charger for their new machine.

GaN provides compact chargers

Verbatim offers chargers in two categories: traditional chargers made of silicon and plastic, and newer chargers based on GaN technology, that is, the semiconductor material gallium nitride.

– It is powerful and even safer. You can have quite a small device that fits in your pocket, which, if it is powerful enough, can also charge the computer, phone and tablet, says Herrala.

Gallium nitride is a material that makes the product smaller and more powerful than traditional silicon. Herrala says we are moving away from the bulky chargers we are used to carrying around with us.

– Now you can choose something that you also think looks nice, which is also capable of charging the devices you have with you when travelling, he says.

Guidance will be crucial

The transition to USB-C requires both marketing and shop staff to help explain the differences to consumers.

– There will be a transition phase in which we will have to repeat this again and again, says Herrala.

– Put simply: if you choose a GaN charger with 65 watts or more, you can feel confident that the computer will be able to charge.

USB-A remains relevant

Although USB-C is now required for new computers, Herrala believes that USB-A will remain available for a long time to come.

– We must also honour all the electronics that exist in department stores and in homes. You should not have to run in and out of shops to fetch new things, he says.

He estimates that USB-C will eventually dominate, but that both standards will exist in parallel during a longer transition period.

Accessories are growing

– How important are chargers to you?

– Very important. We are 57 years old, an old company from Germany that is very proud of our storage history. But with each passing year, the accessories share of sales in department stores increases, says Herrala.

Verbatim started with floppy disks, moved on to discs with patented technology, then USB flash drives, memory cards, SSDs and HDDs. Herrala believes the accessories segment will become ever more strongly linked to the brand, particularly among younger target groups.

– What would you say about the quality of your products?

– It is very important to us, and very good. For example, the GaN chargers undergo several types of safety checks before launch. The products should not only have an attractive design, they must be reliable and safe to use. At Verbatim, we are very thorough about that before we launch anything, says Herrala.