Other Should the EU force Apple to adopt a universal charger?

[Drosera]

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58665809

Manufacturers will be forced to create a universal charging solution for phones and small electronic devices, under a new rule proposed by the European Commission (EC). The aim is to reduce waste by encouraging consumers to re-use existing chargers when buying a new device. All smartphones sold in the EU must have USB-C chargers, the proposal said.

Apple has warned such a move would harm innovation. The tech giant is the main manufacturer of smartphones using a custom charging port, as its iPhone series uses an Apple-made "Lightning" connector.

In 2009, there were more than 30 different chargers, whereas now most models stick to three - the USB-C, Lightning and USB micro-B.

"Having one common charging standard would be a victory for common sense in the eyes of consumers," Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight said. Although Apple has made a strong argument for keeping its Lightning connector, given the one billion active iPhone users, some of its products including Mac and iPad now support USB-C. Hopefully it will eventually become a non-issue if Apple keeps adding USB-C to more devices."

What do you think?

 

[dallegre]

I vote no, but I really wish Apple would just move to USB-C on their own. My MBP and iPad and a bunch of other devices use USB-C. Why is the Apple ecosystem split between port standards (lightning for airpods and AppleTV remote, why)? I'm just moving back to an iPhone, and lighting has been one of the biggest things keeping me hesitant.

 

[NewBench]

Apple was behind Thunderbolt, the most recent two versions of which use USB-C, so it makes perfect sense for USB-C to be the port for every device they sell at this point. Having Lightning as a connector still in 2021 just seems...outdated. Honestly, given Apple's association with Thunderbolt, out of all of the smartphone manufacturers it seems Apple is most resistant to rolling out USB-C on its own smartphone.

Good to see the new iPad Mini have a USB-C/Thunderbolt port, hopefully Apple sees sense and introduces USB-C to iPhone 14 and every new iPhone from that point on (including any new SE).

Yes there will be plenty of people disappointed that their Lightning cables/compatible devices won't work without an adapter, but this is a generational thing and USB-C will be around for a long time.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Absolutely go to a universal charge connector. Much better for the consumer in the long run

 

[Bacasable]

yes i want an usb c for iphone, but i can't imagine the tons of cables made for lightning, just throwed to bins

 

[velocityg4]

Honestly, I wouldn't care if it's Lightning or USB C set as the standard. I'd just want one of those two as the standard. Mainly I want the iPhone to hit at least USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds. For backups, restores and file transfers.

While I get why Apple wants Lightning on their phones. I don't get why they're stuck at USB 2.0 speeds. If it's some limitation of the port they can't get around. It should go the way of the dodo.

USB C just makes more sense as it's used on a wider range of devices. Plus it seems to handle more power. Although I don't know what the actual limits of Lightning are. If the wiring and connector can physically handle 5A@20V like USB C can or not.

 

[Drosera]

I'm in the yes camp too - for many of the points raised above. What are Apple's arguments for the lightning connector being better than USB C? As the commentator said, if that were the case, why have them in Macs and iPads?

 

[applesith]

No. The government has no right to dictate product design and technology like this. What happens when the next I/O comes along? Governments are commonly corrupt and influenced by agendas. You just need a powerful tech actor to push the government to force a new standard and everything is turned upside down.

 

[MisterSavage]

I just know it's a PITA having an iPad with one and an iPhone with other.

 

[Drosera]

No. The government has no right to dictate product design and technology like this. What happens when the next I/O comes along? Governments are commonly corrupt and influenced by agendas. You just need a powerful tech actor to push the government to force a new standard and everything is turned upside down.

I guess I see connectors like WiFi6 or 5G. They should be technologies that are universally agreed and improved upon with join-up across the sector. I'm not saying that's easy to co-ordinate, but it should be aimed for given the huge amounts of e-waste and user inconvenience.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

No. The government has no right to dictate product design and technology like this. What happens when the next I/O comes along? Governments are commonly corrupt and influenced by agendas. You just need a powerful tech actor to push the government to force a new standard and everything is turned upside down.

This directive is to cut down on e-waste and governments have to drive this sort of initiative. They could always block companies who aren’t interested in environmental guidelines from trading in their regions and Europe is arguably Apples biggest single market. I also think consumers would rather have one charger that suits multiple devices rather than the shambles we see now with iOS devices. When I go away, I have to take 3 different chargers to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad. They need to sort it out and soon.

 

[dmx]

I really want USB-C, but I don’t think it should be mandated. This would restrict development and rollout of a future standard that may be even better, across all manufacturers. Buerocracy is slow and adverse to change.

 

[retta283]

What Apple could do is just tell the EU they will cease operations in the EU market unless a backdoor deal is made to nullify their decision. They will certainly give in to this, the lawmakers would cave. Something like adding a 10-year clause by which point Apple will be all wireless anyway.

We don't need laws prohibiting something like a port. You can still allow companies to sell products with clear adverse health risks, but you can't make a new device with Lightning. Brilliant.

 

[applesith]

This directive is to cut down on e-waste and governments have to drive this sort of initiative. They could always block companies who aren’t interested in environmental guidelines from trading in their regions and Europe is arguably Apples biggest single market. I also think consumers would rather have one charger that suits multiple devices rather than the shambles we see now with iOS devices. When I go away, I have to take 3 different chargers to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad. They need to sort it out and soon.

New regulation opens the precedent for more regulation. What’s next in the name of e-waste? all packaging is the same? Batteries need to be the same? Do parts need to be upgradable so the full phone is not replaced?

If this passes, it is a matter of time until they move on to the next components of devices.

Consumers rather have fewer chargers and there are solutions to that. The government does not need to regulate what it thinks some consumers rather have.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

New regulation opens the precedent for more regulation. What’s next in the name of e-waste? all packaging is the same? Batteries need to be the same? Do parts need to be upgradable so the full phone is not replaced?

If this passes, it is a matter of time until they move on to the next components of devices.

Consumers rather have fewer chargers and there are solutions to that. The government does not need to regulate what it thinks some consumers rather have.

Well yeah and they should absolutely move onto the next form of e-waste. There should be no plastic in product packaging whatsoever and governments should be doing more to penalise companies that fail to package goods in an environmentally friendly way. It’s so out of hand it’s unreal and for me, governments aren’t doing anywhere near enough to sort this out.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

What Apple could do is just tell the EU they will cease operations in the EU market unless a backdoor deal is made to nullify their decision. They will certainly give in to this, the lawmakers would cave. Something like adding a 10-year clause by which point Apple will be all wireless anyway.

We don't need laws prohibiting something like a port. You can still allow companies to sell products with clear adverse health risks, but you can't make a new device with Lightning. Brilliant.

I don’t think an entire continent is afraid of a company like Apple. Europe is Apples biggest single market and if they decided to pull out of that in protest at not living up to their environmental duties, then they’d lose out financially in a massive way. It doesn’t need to get to that, they’ve already started using USB-C on some of their devices anyway, so no toys need to be thrown out of prams just yet.

 

[azhava]

While I'd like to see all devices have the same ports for convenience, I'm against government sticking their noses where it doesn't belong. I'm not a fan of the nanny state.

 

[eoblaed]

Of course having universal stuff is handy for people. I get that.

But, forcing companies to use any one technology, regardless of what that tech might be, stifles innovation and progress. If you force companies to use a standard charger, what happens when there's better technology? Suddenly it becomes a massive effort to try to adjust the laws to allow the adoption of the new technology ... but then you're in a window where there won't be a universal standard. Do you force the existing companies to change to the new standard? What if it's cost prohibitive for them to do so?

It's ugly, it won't accomplish what people want, and it'll slow/prevent growth and innovation. Bad, bad idea.

 

[applesith]

Well yeah and they should absolutely move into the next form of e-waste. There should be no plastic in product packaging whatsoever and governments should be doing more to penalise companies that fail to package goods in an environmentally friendly way. It’s so out of hand it’s unreal and for me, governments aren’t doing anywhere near enough to sort this out.

They should really just start sending agents to people's homes to rid of non USB-C cables for devices and any plastic they have. Go hard or don't go at all :/

 

[iObama]

While I'm not a small government hawk by any means, having the government force private business to use a certain port on their products seems... extreme. However, with the state of our climate, I do feel like drastic measures need to be taken – and fast.

Long story short, I have nothing to add to this conversation and am playing both sides of the fence 😂

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

They should really just start sending agents to people's homes to rid of non USB-C cables for devices and any plastic they have. Go hard or don't go at all :/

I don’t get your point there, sorry.

 

[Jett0516]

Here’s what Tim will do. He’s gonna make usbc iPhones for Europe only

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

While I'm not a small government hawk by any means, having the government force private business to use a certain port on their products seems... extreme. However, with the state of our climate, I do feel like drastic measures need to be taken – and fast.

Long story short, I have nothing to add to this conversation and am playing both sides of the fence

What about stopping private companies from using flammable foams and plastics in toy products like we’ve seen since the 1980’s? We’re people against that, because companies should be allowed to use what they like?

It’s not extreme to have standards for safety and environmental reasons.

 

[applesith]

I don’t get your point there, sorry.

I was responding to your comment about governments not doing enough. And your comment only addressed my mention of packaging but nothing of the slippery slope of how this invites regulation into every part of a device.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I was responding to your comment about governments not doing enough. And your comment only addressed my mention of packaging but nothing of the slippery slope of how this invites regulation into every part of a device.

I don’t see it as a slippery slope as it’s just about standardising product charger ports.