Issue 17 · 20–26 April 2026
The Week, Story by Story
The long version of the roundup. Same order as the home page, with the context you need to act.
How to Read This Issue
Stories run in order of urgency: first the ones with a date attached, then the slower trends. Each item has three parts: what happened, the background, and one line on why it matters. If you only have a minute, read the why-it-matters lines and stop.
We cite official dates and documents. Where a timeline is still being negotiated, we say so instead of guessing.
The Stories
USB-C becomes mandatory on new EU laptops
The common charger directive, Directive (EU) 2022/2380, has applied to phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, handheld consoles, e-readers, keyboards, mice and portable speakers since 28 December 2024. From 28 April 2026 the rule extends to laptops. Devices that charge at higher power must also support the USB Power Delivery standard, so a compliant charger from one brand should work with another's device. Buyers must also be offered the option to purchase a device without a charger in the box.
Why it mattersYour existing USB-C charger is likely enough for your next laptop; check its wattage before buying another.
AI Act: the 2 August 2026 milestone
The AI Act was published in the EU's Official Journal in July 2024 and entered into force on 1 August 2024. Prohibitions on practices such as social scoring applied from 2 February 2025; obligations for general-purpose AI model providers applied from 2 August 2025. A large share of the remaining rules, including many for high-risk systems, are scheduled for 2 August 2026. In November 2025 the Commission proposed a "digital omnibus" package that would adjust parts of this timeline, so watch for final legislative decisions.
Why it mattersTeams deploying AI for recruitment, credit scoring or exams should map their systems now, whatever the final date.
Windows 10: six months of paid-for safety net left
Free security updates for Windows 10 ended on 14 October 2025. Microsoft's consumer Extended Security Updates programme provides critical patches until 13 October 2026. After that, the realistic options are upgrading to Windows 11 where hardware allows, moving to another operating system, or replacing the machine.
Why it mattersPlan the move before autumn rather than in the last week, when stock and support queues tighten.
Passkeys spread across mainstream sign-ins
Passkeys, built on FIDO Alliance and W3C WebAuthn standards, replace a password with a cryptographic key stored on your device and unlocked with a fingerprint, face or PIN. Apple, Google and Microsoft sync them across devices through their own password managers, and independent managers such as 1Password and Bitwarden also support them.
Why it mattersA passkey cannot be typed into a fake login page, which defeats the most common phishing trick.
Wi-Fi 7 hardware drops in price
Wi-Fi 7, the IEEE 802.11be standard, adds 320 MHz channels in the 6 GHz band and Multi-Link Operation, which lets a device use several bands at once. Certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance started in January 2024. Mid-range routers now carry it, but the gains appear only when your devices support it too.
Why it mattersIf your laptop and phone are Wi-Fi 6 or older, a better router position may help more than a new router.
Matter widens its device list
Matter, managed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, lets certified devices work with several ecosystems at once. Recent versions have added categories beyond lights and plugs, including energy-management devices and appliances. Thread, a low-power mesh network, carries many Matter devices.
Why it mattersLook for the Matter logo to avoid devices that only work inside one app.
DMA: fines, then compliance changes
Under the Digital Markets Act, the Commission fined Apple €500 million over app store anti-steering rules and Meta €200 million over its "pay or consent" model in April 2025. Both companies have contested aspects of the decisions. Gatekeeper compliance reports and Commission reviews continue.
Why it mattersOutcomes decide how freely EU users can pay, download and choose defaults on their phones.
Right to repair moves toward national law
The EU right-to-repair directive, Directive (EU) 2024/1799, must be transposed into national law by member states by 31 July 2026. It obliges makers of certain products to offer repair beyond warranty at reasonable prices and to make spare parts available.
Why it mattersRepairing a phone or washing machine should become cheaper and easier to arrange.
What We Left Out
Rumoured product leaks, unconfirmed release dates and funding rounds without a product. They may become stories later. When they do, they will appear here with a source and a date.
Primary Sources
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