EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

Good, though in practice it's not the charger the problem, I use the same USB plug everywhere, it's Apple and their cable. Right now I always need with me a micro USB cable, an USB-C one, and Lightning, because Apple thinks different™.

What's Apple reasoning for not abandoning Lightning for USB-C on their phones?

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#5

Post by dtech » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 8:40 AM UTC

This is non-news, this has already been the case since 2009 [1]. It mandates micro USB, EU iPhones come with an adapter. I'm not sure what the current status is, USB-C phones don't come with an adapter.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#6

Post by Aaargh20318 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 8:41 AM UTC

selfhoster11 wrote: post #2

Good. We need this. The USB-C connector is capable of providing laptop-grade power supply, and Apple is the only straggler that I know of.

I think it’s a horrible idea. It means moving to a future, better standard (let’s say, USB-D) is neigh impossible as it would require a change to an EU directive (that is: 27 countries need to agree on it).

Just getting this into law has already been in the works for years and years, if the EU had worked a bit faster we would have been stuck with micro USB-B, which would have been unfortunate.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#7

Post by mschuster91 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 8:43 AM UTC

sph wrote: post #4

Good, though in practice it's not the charger the problem, I use the same USB plug everywhere, it's Apple and their cable. Right now I always need with me a micro USB cable, an USB-C one, and Lightning, because Apple thinks different™. What's Apple reasoning for not abandoning Lightning for USB-C on their phones?

> What's Apple reasoning for not abandoning Lightning for USB-C on their phones?

People having a lot of legacy MFi stuff. Car docks and stereo systems in particular are expensive to replace.

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#8

Post by Reason077 » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 8:44 AM UTC

I can’t wait for an iPhone with a USB C port, and I’ll buy it immediately.

There’s nothing technically wrong with Lightning, but it’s a monumental pain to have to carry around 2 sets of incompatible cables because of it!

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#9

Post by deepsun » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 8:44 AM UTC

sph wrote: post #4

Good, though in practice it's not the charger the problem, I use the same USB plug everywhere, it's Apple and their cable. Right now I always need with me a micro USB cable, an USB-C one, and Lightning, because Apple thinks different™. What's Apple reasoning for not abandoning Lightning for USB-C on their phones?

$29? https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD819AM/A/lightning-to-us...

Re: EU plans to force OEMs to use a common charger for all phones

#10

Post by Arnt » Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 8:45 AM UTC

bencollier49 wrote: post #3

Wasn't this a news item ten years ago? Ah, yes - confirmed in the article!

It was, and quite a success, and probably encouraged the current step.

It changed a problem from "find the right charger" to "will this charger charge this phone quickly or slowly?" with hardly any problems. Someone will post a link to that Google engineer who tested cables, and there was a manufacturer who supplied non-USB power via a USB plug (can't remember which voltage but it wasn't 5V1A), but on the whole, a great improvement over the old state.