Starting today, USB-C is the mandatory charging standard for all laptops sold in the EU.
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"One cable, any brand, less electronic waste.”
Per the article @jnfingerle posted, unfortunately that's simply not true
(See also: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/11/usb-c-is-not-universal/680502/)
There are multiple types of USB-C cable with different capabilities, and they're not interchangeable. Previously it was obvious that you couldn't plug device-A into power adapter B; now the connection may fail for no obvious reason.
What's needed now is clear, standardised labeling. It’d be great if you could work on that.
@mmalc @EUCommission Once, a USB-C cable was left plugged into an adapter on a table in the office. I was in a hurry and didn't notice how thin the cable was. I plugged what I thought was the docking station's cable into the notebook and rushed to the daily stand-up. By the time I got back, the cable was hot, and the notebook's charging circuit was fried.
It is also good to know that some product warranties cover charger issues only if the device was charged using its official cable. Oculus Quest 2's manual mentions that it can catch fire otherwise.
You can take risks or play the unpleasant memory game of "which USB-C cable came or compatible with which device". -
@geoffl @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle When you're dealing with that much power (up to 240W) it's indeed smart for the charger to check that the cable is actually rated accordingly, rather than burning your house down.
As for the protocol, it *must* be USB PD, super simple, no fiddling around.
The only drawback might be the markings (as the USB if is quite bad at this), though from a quick glance at the law it seems that it's being worked on (at least for the chargers).
@SamantazFox @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle
I've got 25W chargers with incompatible power negotiation protocols from each other. 60W chargers that only charge devices some at 15W. Phones than only charge at the fastest speed with the manufacturers charger even if other chargers claim to support the same protocol. The best thing to do is upgrade all your chargers and cables every year, only keeping specific old combinations for certain devices. Same e-waste different hat.
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@hazelnot @raymaccarthy @mmalc @EUCommission @jnfingerle
I believe that that's exactly the idea. Same way that phones, at least in Europe, no longer comes with chargers@Liza @hazelnot @mmalc @EUCommission @jnfingerle
Fortunately my recent phones did come with chargers. They only slow charge with other chargers and the chargers in the shops, like the USB cables, are often the simplest kind.There are two revisions I know of for USB-PD, two Qualcomm standards, and maybe 3 other USB-A methods.
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Starting today, USB-C is the mandatory charging standard for all laptops sold in the EU.
We are putting an end to cable clutter and unnecessary costs for citizens.
One cable, any brand, less electronic waste.
We are delivering a simpler, more sustainable digital future for Europe.
@EUCommission I don't like Apple but I will miss magsafe.
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Starting today, USB-C is the mandatory charging standard for all laptops sold in the EU.
We are putting an end to cable clutter and unnecessary costs for citizens.
One cable, any brand, less electronic waste.
We are delivering a simpler, more sustainable digital future for Europe.
I wonder if USB-C can handle such an intense flux of electricity as those expensive medium-to-large laptops that have fans and stuff
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@SamantazFox @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle
I've got 25W chargers with incompatible power negotiation protocols from each other. 60W chargers that only charge devices some at 15W. Phones than only charge at the fastest speed with the manufacturers charger even if other chargers claim to support the same protocol. The best thing to do is upgrade all your chargers and cables every year, only keeping specific old combinations for certain devices. Same e-waste different hat.
@SamantazFox @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle
And don't even let me get started on data transfer speed differences.
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@SamantazFox @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle
I've got 25W chargers with incompatible power negotiation protocols from each other. 60W chargers that only charge devices some at 15W. Phones than only charge at the fastest speed with the manufacturers charger even if other chargers claim to support the same protocol. The best thing to do is upgrade all your chargers and cables every year, only keeping specific old combinations for certain devices. Same e-waste different hat.
@geoffl @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle Well, at least now you can request a refund if you get sold such a device, at it is cannot be legally sold in the EU.
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@geoffl @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle When you're dealing with that much power (up to 240W) it's indeed smart for the charger to check that the cable is actually rated accordingly, rather than burning your house down.
As for the protocol, it *must* be USB PD, super simple, no fiddling around.
The only drawback might be the markings (as the USB if is quite bad at this), though from a quick glance at the law it seems that it's being worked on (at least for the chargers).
@SamantazFox
But still, "one cable" is a broken promise.
@geoffl @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission -
Starting today, USB-C is the mandatory charging standard for all laptops sold in the EU.
We are putting an end to cable clutter and unnecessary costs for citizens.
One cable, any brand, less electronic waste.
We are delivering a simpler, more sustainable digital future for Europe.
@EUCommission Well-intentioned but poorly executed: which USB-C? You didn't specify that just as you failed to specify a charging standard. Consequently, we are once again left needing hundreds of different cables and chargers.
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Starting today, USB-C is the mandatory charging standard for all laptops sold in the EU.
We are putting an end to cable clutter and unnecessary costs for citizens.
One cable, any brand, less electronic waste.
We are delivering a simpler, more sustainable digital future for Europe.
@EUCommission wish that was true for anything and everything USB and at least a good length of cord ...
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@SamantazFox @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle
And don't even let me get started on data transfer speed differences.
@geoffl @SamantazFox @mmalc @EUCommission @jnfingerle
Or USB-C cables with chips or without, or chips that lie about the speed.
At least the Philips USB- to C cable in shop had "USB-2.0" large on the front and some others have 480 Mbps (=USB 2 max). Most have no indication.
So far all USB-3 USB-A to USB-C cables have been real. You can see the extra 5 contacts & usually blue tongue.
I bought a USB cable tester that displays connections & chip data if any. All but 1 USB C-C are simple USB 2.0.
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@mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle Mandating USB-C doesn't prevent crappy vendors from misusing the connector, badly implenting the standard or maliciously complying.
It however improves the overall user experience, by e.g requiring a single charger and cable for your iPhone, your partner's Pixel and your daughter's Kindle.
Different product categories will obviously still require different charging bricks due power requirements.
@SamantazFox @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle
"It however improves the overall user experience”
Not really, precisely per your own follow-up:
"The only drawback might be the markings (as the USB if is quite bad at this)”
That's exactly the point I made.
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@geoffl @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle Well, at least now you can request a refund if you get sold such a device, at it is cannot be legally sold in the EU.
@SamantazFox @mmalc @raymaccarthy @EUCommission @jnfingerle
The EU have banned selling chargers for my old devices? It's worse than I thought.
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Starting today, USB-C is the mandatory charging standard for all laptops sold in the EU.
We are putting an end to cable clutter and unnecessary costs for citizens.
One cable, any brand, less electronic waste.
We are delivering a simpler, more sustainable digital future for Europe.
@EUCommission
Good! Now, if you really want a more sustainable digital future: regulate generative AI, support FOSS (in mobile phones too: I want to install the OS I want on my phone) and stop Google from locking down Android! -
Starting today, USB-C is the mandatory charging standard for all laptops sold in the EU.
We are putting an end to cable clutter and unnecessary costs for citizens.
One cable, any brand, less electronic waste.
We are delivering a simpler, more sustainable digital future for Europe.
@EUCommission i've never seen this used for charging?
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