EU lawmakers pass single charger law for all mobile devices

[sl8]

https://www.dw.com/en/eu-lawmakers-pass-single-charger-law-for-all-mobile-devices/a-63331136

EU lawmakers pass single charger law for all mobile devices

Date : 10.4.2022

From 2024, all phones, tablets and cameras will have to be USB-C compatible. This poses a problem for Apple in particular.

The European Parliament approved a law on Tuesday that will require companies to ensure that every smartphone, tablet and camera has the same charger.

The rule, which goes into effect in 2024, will likely have the biggest impact on Apple and its products. The tech giant will be forced to change its charging port to the more common USB-C format.

[...]

A 2019 study carried out by the Commission showed that about half the phones being sold in the European Union had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had USB-C, and 21% had an Apple Lightning charger.

[Goonch]

1. USB-C vs. Lightning: What's the Difference

USB-C

Transfer speeds up to 40Gbps.

USB4 support.

Lightning

Transfer speeds up to 480Mbps.

Comparable transfer speeds to USB 2.0.

https://www.lifewire.com/usb-c-vs-lightning-5206813

[jimfields33]

2. Why go with the inferior product? Why couldn't everything go Apple?

It used to be the world wanted to go with the best. Now they just go with the average. Horrible horrible decision. I think they’ll regret it very soon.

[smb]

4. Er, You Did Notice the "G" and "M" Multipliers, Right?

40G=40 billion; 480M=480 million. The selection was the superior product, with transfer speeds up to 80x faster.

As noted in the linked article:

Setting aside Apple exclusivity, USB-C is superior to Lightning in just about every way having the benefit of being a new connector coming out years after Lightning.

[Celerity]

5. Lightning is nowhere near as good, no clue what you are on about. Plus why should we (EU)

reward a non EU company for going proprietary?


https://www.lifewire.com/usb-c-vs-lightning-5206813

[Conjuay]

6. expensive

doesn’t mean “good”. Apple is not the holy grail many people want to believe it is

Its the same as starbucks. pricey but nothing great.

[dchill]

9. Apple is a fetish. People pay more and believe.

Starbucks is a fitting comparison. And Tesla? Maybe. I sure wouldn't know!

[edhopper]

14. Starbucks coffee

cost the same as Dunkin.

[dchill]

17. Yes, Dunkin is expensive, too.

[edhopper]

18. Which is fine

people should buy what they like. I just find it funny how people act like Starbucks is "elite" and Dunkin is for common folk.

[edhopper]

13. I like Starbucks

but more to the point, their basic coffee is priced about the same as Dunkin Donuts, the place people think is "for regular folks".

[Layzeebeaver]

3. Watch for another cheap but necessary adapter

The manufactures will find a way to get around this.

USB-D

[Celerity]

7. glad to see this, good move

[usaf-vet]

8. Better to see it set as a standard in the U.S.

I hate t think of the hundred, if not thousands of chargers and charger cables I have put through recycling.

25 years as a technology consultant put me in contact with untold chargers and cables, often outdated with the next hardware upgrade.

[ForgedCrank]

10. Well, this IS Apple.

They will probably use the USB-C as mandated, but swap all the pin-outs so the wires are different.
They can't be bothered with IEEE standards because that would cut into the 30 dollar charge cable market.

[dembotoz]

11. about time

some things should be standard like a wall outlet.

Can you imagine finding out the new toaster you bought was useless because it had the wrong plug?

[jaxexpat]

15. Quite right. Electric outlets and cell chargers are not where I want to see creative license.

Actually, unless it's a legitimate fix required to prevent monopolization and quality/price fixing, I think we'd all be better pleased with the nature of our manufactured conveniences if the prejudice was always toward standardization. How's that going with car chargers? I have 0 personal experience with car charging but I'm sure it would be best if there was mandatory standardization on aspects of EV charging systems and components.

[yardwork]

12. Good! We need that here too. I'm looking at you, Apple.

[mn9driver]

16. Apple's newer IPads use USB C instead of Lightning.

I have no idea why they haven’t switched over completely.