cross-posted from: https://jlai.lu/post/3226934
The wait is finally over. From 2024, USB-C will be the common standard for electronic devices in the EU – and we have already seen the impact !
It means
- 🔌The same charger for all phones, tablets and cameras
- ⚡ Harmonised fast-charging technology
- 🔄Reduced e-waste
One charger to rule them all.
Now, a reality.
Learn more about the #EUCommonCharger here: https://europa.eu/!hwjj3G
Unbundling the sale of a charger from the sale of the electronic device .
The ‘common charging’ requirements will apply to all handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems as of 2024. These requirements will also apply to laptops as of 2026. Such transition periods will give industry sufficient time to adapt before the entry into application.
Consumers will be able to purchase a new electronic device without a new charger. This will limit the number of chargers on the market or left unused. Reducing production and disposal of new chargers is estimated to reduce the amount of electronic waste by 980 tonnes yearly
Producers will need to provide relevant visual and written information about charging characteristics, including information on the power the device requires and whether it supports fast charging. This will help consumers understand if their existing chargers meet their new device’s requirements and/or help them select a compatible charger. Combined with the other measures, this will help consumers to limit the number of new chargers purchased and save at least €250 million a year on unnecessary charger purchases.
L’attente est finalement terminée. À partir de 2024, l’USB-C deviendra la norme commune pour les appareils électroniques dans l’UE – et nous avons déjà vu son impact !
Cela signifie
- 🔌Le même chargeur pour tous les téléphones, tablettes et appareils photo
- ⚡ Technologie de charge rapide harmonisée
- 🔄Réduction des déchets électroniques
Un chargeur pour les gouverner tous. Maintenant, une réalité. Pour en savoir plus sur le #EUCommonCharger, cliquez ici : https://europa.eu/!hwjj3G
Les exigences de « charge commune » s’appliqueront à tous les téléphones mobiles portables, tablettes, appareils photo numériques, écouteurs, casques, haut-parleurs portables, consoles de jeux vidéo portables, liseuses électroniques, écouteurs, claviers, souris et systèmes de navigation portables à partir de 2024. Ces exigences s’appliquera également aux ordinateurs portables à partir de 2026. De telles périodes de transition donneront à l’industrie suffisamment de temps pour s’adapter avant l’entrée en application.
Les consommateurs pourront acheter un nouvel appareil électronique sans nouveau chargeur. Cela limitera le nombre de chargeurs sur le marché ou inutilisés. On estime que la réduction de la production et de l’élimination des nouveaux chargeurs permettrait de réduire la quantité de déchets électroniques de 980 tonnes par an.
Les producteurs devront fournir des informations visuelles et écrites pertinentes sur les caractéristiques de charge, y compris des informations sur la puissance requise par l’appareil et s’il prend en charge une charge rapide. Cela aidera les consommateurs à comprendre si leurs chargeurs existants répondent aux exigences de leur nouvel appareil et/ou les aidera à sélectionner un chargeur compatible. Combinée aux autres mesures, cette mesure aidera les consommateurs à limiter le nombre de nouveaux chargeurs achetés et à économiser au moins 250 millions d’euros par an sur les achats inutiles de chargeurs
What are you using that doesn’t have it? Samsung, Apple, Dell, HP now use it on all phones, Tablets, Laptops. Playstation uses them, Vapes as well. I am unsure what XBOX uses, but usually people use a dock so I haven’t looked at the plug.
Not asking as if there isn’t a device out there that doesn’t use it, but I don’t know of any devices I can think of
Small appliance. For example, 6 months ago, I was looking for a new bike front light and finding one that charged by USB type C was difficult. I thought I might replace my rear light too, but all the simple, reasonably priced ones were micro USB, so I gave up.
Honestly I would hold off on purchases for USB-C models of devices that used to sell with micro USB now after getting various things which only work with the USB-A -> USB-C adapters. Seems like manufacturers did the bare minimum and just replaced the socket and plastic hole, without any other changes, so while yes it can charge via a USB-C port, it still requires the USB-A cable because it can’t do any negotiation on charging specs and was designed with the 5V assumption of USB-A power.
For myself, I’m always carrying around a Type A block, so it’s not an issue right now and probably won’t be an issue until the batteries die. I just want to carry around 1 less cable.
I bought a Logitech wireless mouse last year (and a high end, well-reviewed model, to be clear) and was absolutely astounded to see that it charges by microUSB.
My beard trimmer also wasn’t USB C but in fairness maybe that’s a “we designed this so you can charge it in a wet, steamy bathroom” kinda thing.
eBook readers took ages to finally transition for some reason (faaaaaaar after phones/tablets), but we’re now finally there.
Plenty of laptops still use their crappy barrel plugs
My head torch I bought a few weeks ago was microUSB
I went into Lidl and bought a AA/AAA battery recharger, that was microUSB too
Don’t get me wrong, most stuff is Type-C now, but microUSB and others still rear their ugly heads a fair bit, and it needs to stop.
I don’t understand what is wrong with microUSB in applications like charging a mouse? I don’t know what the effective difference really is in such cases. It’s not like USB-C means you can do everything with the same cable. That’s not how USB-C works. So either way, you’ll probably need multiple cables depending on the devices you’re using.
But in your example, they are equivalent. USB-c can do everything micro-usb can, so moving the mouse to usb-c is beneficial to the customer by reducing the number of different cables and connectors to deal with. I suppose usb-c is a little bigger but not enough to make a difference on a mouse
But it also requires redesigning everything and recalling all the stock that is already out there if you want everything to be USB-C, which I think is a little silly when talking about a mouse.
So yes, USB-C can do all of those things, but to move to it also requires redesigning the product, recalling or selling out of the old product, and possibly raising the price to cover it.
USB-C makes sense to me in a lot of applications, but I just don’t think it matters much when it comes to something like a mouse at this point. Five years from now if there’s a rechargeable mouse that isn’t USB-C? Fine. I agree with you. It should be. In 2023/2024? I think it’s acceptable.
Nobody is talking about recalling old products to swap out USB ports and redesigning for USB-C is trivial. They mean for future purchases, it’s nice to use a single standard.
I understand that, but until the old stocks run out, the future options with USB-C ports aren’t going to show up for purchase. Logitech isn’t going to make and sell mouse model X with a USB-C port until they run out of all of what they already have. And that goes right the way both up and down the supply chain.
I guess I kind of assumed we already are five years from now. Everything I see online has been complaining about iPhone being the last device to move to usb-c and it has been going on for years. I expected everything else to be already there or well on its way. If you redesign a mouse about every five years, there ought to have been enough time already.
Is a mouse really redesigned every five years? I’ve used the same make of Logitech wireless trackball for I don’t know how long now.
You can get USB micro to USB-C adaptors for about 1 to $2 each. That lets you use a single cable to charge both types of devices, which is the best of both worlds.