EU law mandating universal chargers for devices comes into force
EU law mandating universal chargers for devices comes into force

EU law mandating universal chargers for devices comes into force

Suck it micro USB, mini USB, and lightning! 🪫🔋
EU law mandating universal chargers for devices comes into force
EU law mandating universal chargers for devices comes into force
Suck it micro USB, mini USB, and lightning! 🪫🔋
Eu once again doing more to improve my life than my own government (tax holiday).
Please do this for things like rechargeable electric shavers and toothbrushes as well.
Those, especially the toothbrush, need to be more water resistant. Electric teethbrush should be entirely waterproof, and I don't think USB-C can do that.
Can we bring back the charging as well, and not just the USB cable... Oh, and while you're at it, screws instead of glue, to replace batteries would be awesome.
Thx!
There's a rule coming into effect in 2027 that enforces user replaceable batteries for devices in the EU. https://www.pcmag.com/news/eu-smartphones-must-have-user-replaceable-batteries-by-2027
while 2027 is better than nothing, I still wonder why it took them so long. Glue in smartphones has been around for probably a decade now.
Also, I think, anything that has a battery, should be user replacable... even teeny-tiny earbuds.
Based AF eu
Noice. I am definitely waiting until 2028ish before upgrading my phone, if not a bit longer.
Sadly, it still allows to glue batteries with very little requirements.
Just get a Fairphone, with every module screwed into place. Except the battery, you can just take that out by hand.
The benefit is that by being standardized, there will be less proprietary cords and adapters. And the capability of USB-C should be adequate for sometime with the power and data transfer.
One issue, is that not all USBC cords are of the same quality. I found this recently when trying to find a cord that can be used for an external SSD, and video for a monitor. Some cords worked, the rest did not. All the cords could be used for charging, but after that, all bets are off.
The problem is that USB-C is a plug not a standard even in charging some cables won't do as much power as others (though at least they communicate that to the power source).
I do however fully support the total USB-C rollout. In my everyday carry there's now only one plug (2 USB-C one USB-A) and some cables that I can charge everything with, my laptop, my phone my Powerbank and even those few devices that are still USB-B micro (I just carry one USB-A to micro cable).
USB C cables have been all over the shop since the beginning, and chargers. I remember even 5 years back the problems they had. Part of that is the cables and chargers are "active" in the sense they negotiate charge rates and other functionality between either end and if one end is dumb or doesn't respond properly you get the 5V 2A default. On the other hand if you have a USB C 4.0 lightning cable and two compliant devices then potentially you could be powering 2 monitors, keyboard, mouse, wifi, a graphics card even AND charging through one cable. It's actually incredible when it works properly.
cables and chargers are “active” in the sense they negotiate charge rates and other functionality
Just so you know "active cable" already has a separate meaning: They repeat the USB signals somewhere in the middle for a longer transmission distance.
I think the better idea is to pick up the terminology from the USB-IF, they speak of electronical marking, or e-markers in the cables. It's usually a small chip integrated in one of the plug assemblies.
I bought a really nice, high quality, very fast charging and data transfer cable, and there's one device I own that it will not charge at all. My assumption is that it probably doesn't have a charging control chip or something else required to work with that cable. It doesn't work with any other USB-C to C cables I own either. It has to be charged with the USB-A to C cables included in the box
Likewise, I have a speaker thing (w-king brand) that will only charge off USB A to C, and will not charge off any USB C power supply
The cable that comes with the original Nintendo switch is weird. Point blank will not charge things except the switch, I have no idea why Nintendo would care to limited like that.
USA checking in.
Just bought a new USB-C charging beard trimmer on clearance.
Feels good, man.
Thamks if EU helped.
Kudos to the EU, end the waste.
While this is good news, the likes of Apple will still find ways to be "compliant" while still being total assholes about it. e.g. the device might charge with USB C but they'll gimp the data transfer rates on non-pro phones. And they'll do the same when mandates about repairability come in - all of a sudden the battery will have a bunch of expensive DRM'd up the ass circuitry attached to it that will cripple the phone if its not recognized or registered by one of their techs and means Apple can kill old phones by being "out of stock" of the battery.
Honestly, people who still buy apple phones are dumb fucks. No way to say this nicely.
There's a weird discrepancy where Mac Laptops are decent machines despite being on the expensive side, but iphones are just overpriced hot garbage locking you into an ecosystem.
I'm not an apple fan, but this is just a dumb take. they have their place, even if it's not under your ownership.
Apple is absolutely overpriced dogshit. There is no legtimitation for the prices they charge. However, Apple has two advantages(as far from what I heard from a lot of others). Its brain dead easy and works. Every Idiot is capable of using apple and won't have that much problems with it. Apple is the right thing for the digital toddlers that want to have it easy. The Ecosystem is great as long as you don't want to break out of it.
I personally would never buy Apple since I like a certain form of complexity and don't want a completely locked down system. However, if you only care about something where you don't have to think and that just works, Apple is The right thing for you.
Then the Apple Max which are decent machines for a while and then need an upgrade (which cannot be done because Apple) necessitating an entire new device.
I was honestly on the fence of getting a MacBook recently as my first newly purchased Laptop, but ultimately decided against it.
Got a fully decked out ThinkPad P14s instead for about 1800€. Meanwhile the new M4 MacBook Pro starts at 1900€. But I agree that Macs still are good value compared other Apple products.
This is absolutely true,however the EU has proven to be not someone you mess with. Apple has already tried shenanigans to stop side loading and got beaten by the EU to comply with the rules.
e.g. the device might charge with USB C but they’ll gimp the data transfer rates on non-pro phones.
Just so you know, there are others who have slow speed on USB Type-C already. My mother's Galaxy A52 has a USB Type-C port that has only USB 2.0 support for data transfer, but with USB PD 3.0 PPS charging up to 25 W.
To me it's legitimate to use USB Type-C for better power delivery even if the chipset runs only at USB 2.0 speeds for data transfer. But hobbling a fast chipset just for product segmentation would be shitty. It is something I could see Apple doing though.
Apple claim that they will get around to implementing 3.0 data transverse speeds when they next refresh their chipsets, but they haven't had time yet. I'm skeptical about this excuse because it's not like this law is a shock to them, they've known it's coming for the best part of 5 years, which is proved by how much they try to argue against it.
Now if only we can standardize cables or at least labeling. We went from everything working wherever it would plugin to everything plugging in but who knows if it will work
Imo they should at the very least standardize some color coding and labeling. All charging-only cables are yellow, data cables are blue. Something like that.
Yeah, or since people are going to want their cute colored cables, do colored stripes on the connectors or something. Even on the metal connector itself, but not on the inside like old USB-A connectors.
Coming soon on an Amazon: Apple USB-C cable $20.99
It’s not like Apple hasn’t had USB-C devices for 2 years now … where have you been?
8 years, actually.
Not touching them with a barge pole
I mean, Apple has been selling USB-C cables ever since they transitioned MacBooks to use Thunderbolt ports in 2016. And yes, they are expensive. But the whole point of standardized cables is that Apple may sell them for $100 if they want to, there will be others who will sell it for a reasonable price and Apple can't hold you hostage with their proprietary connector.
(Or $24, if you’d prefer.)
Only suck it lightning. It still allows standard chargers like micro USB and mini USB
Are you sure? The EU parliament explicitly mentions USB C as the new mandatory standard.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A32022L2380
USB C is mentioned in annex Ia and as an example in articles 11 and 12. As I understand previous articles, it is possible to use other standards that satisfy citeria from article 9.
They should specified speeds too. I think Apple gimps usb c charging speeds
Yup I have noticed this with my new iPhone 16 pro.
You plug it in and the charging speed as drastically slower than when I use the new ‘official’ apple wireless mag lock (or whatever it’s called) charger.
I have an iPhone 16 and can just from dead to close to 50% in just about half an hour. Is your charger at least 30 watts and supports USB-PD? (I’m using a 65w charger, but remember reading somewhere the iPhone only uses 30w or a bit more)
MagSafe fast charging is only 25w, so charging by cable with a high enough wattage charger is always faster for me.
Don't celebrate until the next version of USB comes out. Will this force everyone to adopt the newest version always or cling to the oldest?
Why are you bringing this up like it hasn't been discussed thousands of times? Like it hasn't been stated (and cleared) in this very post?
As long as it uses the physical type c port it's all good. Not that I care. USB got faster and faster and I use it less and less over the years.
With the iPhone 14 no longer being sold the specs of the rumored SE 2025 make a lot more sense.
will ti 84 calculators have to follow this?
"Starting today, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, speakers, keyboards and many other electronics sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port," the EU Parliament wrote on social media X.
seems like probably yes!
yay
I haven't read the legislation, but I get the thrust of it. They want to standardize cellular devices and also cut down on electronic waste. If it's specifically for cellular devices, then no it won't affect TI products. If it's more generally to cut back on electronic waste, then yes it will affect them.
1.1. handheld mobile phones; 1.2. tablets; 1.3. digital cameras; 1.4. headphones; 1.5. headsets; 1.6. handheld videogame consoles; 1.7. portable speakers; 1.8. e-readers; 1.9. keyboards; 1.10. mice; 1.11. portable navigation systems; 1.12. earbuds; 1.13. laptops.
Seems no, but I may be wrong.
Hell to the yeah!
The chargers l have work just fine. Why do I need to change them?
You don't. But all your new devices from now on will have USB C charging.
To not have to buy and carry around several different cables for your devices
You'll probably need them for old devices. But generally you'll just need a USB A to C cable.
Why does it need to change? The older connectors were too fragile, and needed to be too big of that were to support fast data. USB C can do all of the current data standards and is a pretty robust connector
You may want a newer charger anyway in order to charge faster
about time
Does this law allow for any standards progression or is it USB-c forever?
All this... and they decided that everything needs to use a USB type b? Lol 😂 /s
USB-C
Literally in the article brief and in the second paragraph: "Electronics manufactures must from Saturday fit all devices sold in the EU with USB-C charger ports..."
Now for those swappable batteries
Including cars.
Drive in, swap non-proprietary batteries with an autoloader, drive out. Done.
Yes and no. No need to hot swap massive EV batteries. Rapid is fast enough. But yes so the EV can be upgraded. The batteries go obsolete quicker than they degrade. So make it so we can swap the batteries and keep the rest running. In fact, just right-to-repair the whole car. In fact, the whole everything!
That is something that I wish would come true. This would also open EVs to the industry in some new ways. Currently it kinda sucks if you have machines that have to be able to run the whole day without big interruptions. When you're able to just swap the batteries in like 5 Minutes this machines don't have to rely on fossil fuels that much and are open to be replaced by electric ones.
What I'm thinking about are machines like tractors for farming. During the summer it happens that they are running for 8+ hours without interruptions. Building a battery this big will be quite challengening. However, if you're able to swap out the batteries after like 2 hours and then continue with work you effectively solved one of the biggest problems with not that much of a hassle.
This sounds great until you've had to repair an old car.
Everything rusts, warps, etc. The same things that make it hard to change your brakes will make it hard to change the battery pack, and you're expecting a robot to do it for you (and fast!).
There were companies built on this idea. I think they've all gone under at this point.
One of the benefits of EVs is we can get rid of a lot of infrastructure. Everywhere already has electrical so home and destination chargers are a minor add on and it’s only superchargers that are new infrastructure. Meanwhile the entire gasoline and oil refining, distribution, and tens of thousands of gas stations can just go away, along with their associated pollution.
Swappable batteries may sound cool but they’re less edficient plus now we have to build up a huge new set of infrastructure agai, we have to standardize batteries, and we can’t build them into structural parts. The only real advantage is speed but that’s not much advantage if you need to drive somewhere. I’ve never had to charge more than 25 minutes at a supercharger, so swapping a battery is only convenient if it’s at most ten minutes more away. Then you’re also assuming there will be more more battery and charger advances, such as those solid state batteries that a couple vendors claim are already in production, such as 800v charging that a few vehicles already can do, such as the latest Superchsrgers that can charge faster than any car can accept so far, or the semi chargers that have a few built out.
Long before you could build out a huge new infrastructure for seappable batteries and standardize cars around it, we’ll already have charging improvements that will make seappables irrelevant. You could argue they already are irrelevant in some areas
And range just dropped by half. Going somewhere without a loader? Have fun charging way more often.
Would still be nice for road trips in the civilized world though.
It is great until the ownership and business model comes into consideration.
So add infrastructure every town and each 200km (120 miles) on the highway to robotically swap batteries and charge the stored batteries (and so many stored batteries if it's storing enough for 500 cars an hour
As opposed to building chargers with standard connectors which can charge a car in 15 minutes enough to reach the next charger, 30 minutes to 80% (which is generally the limit in high traffic chargers)
I have seen the cages of propane tanks for barbeques and boggle at the idea of the number of 50 to 100kWh batteries a swap station on a highway would need to store
That's actually the next goal
And make all power tool batteries compatible.