Here we are! Since December 28, 2024, any new small electronic device arriving on the European market must be equipped with a charging port USB-CUSB-C. This legislation from the European regulator aims to reduce electronic wasteelectronic waste by allowing the use of the same cable and charger for all its devices.
However, this law, which was passed in 2022, was strongly criticized by AppleApple. The firm was forced to abandon its own Lightning connector and claimed it would hinder innovation. A position that others find difficult to defend, because it is a connector, not a USB standard. There is confusion, however, because the USB-C connector was released almost at the same time as the USB 3.1 standard. But they are two separate things. The connector physiquephysiqueit is compatible with all versions of USB, since USB 1.0, and should be compatible with all new USB standards to come for a certain time. For comparison, the USB-A connector has been around for almost 30 years and is still relevant today.
Legislation that only concerns small devices
Some put forward the limit of 240 wattswatts of the connector, saying it could restrict future devices. However, currently the legislation includes a specific list of devices, namely: mobile phones and smartphones, tablets, cameras, headsets and earphones, game consoles, speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, communication systems portable navigation. This therefore excludes laptops for the moment, which will not be included until April 28, 2026. In addition, the law applies to devices under 100 watts, which will leave freedom for power-hungry computers. energyenergy. For the devices concerned, the new legislation requires compatibility with the Power Delivery standard in order to allow fast charging regardless of the brand of charger. No more Dash, Warp, SuperVOOC, etc. standards. Despite everything, nothing prevents manufacturers from including their own standard in addition, if it is more advantageous, as long as the device is also compatible with Power Delivery.
The legislation only covers charging, not data transfer. This means that if someone invents a new connector for data, manufacturers will be able to equip their devices with it. However, the USB standard for data will continue to evolve, and it is not the USB-C connector that will be a hindrance. And if the connector reaches its limits, the regulator can always update the legislation to include a new connector. While adoption of the single connector has taken many years, the change to a new connector could be much faster if all manufacturers who need it do so. pressionpression at the same time.
The problem of incompatible cables is still not resolved
However, imposing USB-C will not solve the main problem of this connector, namely the compatibility of the cables with the different standards. THE USB cablesUSB cables-C may be – or not – compatible with the Thunderbolt protocol, with different charging powers, different versions of the USB standard (USB 3 or USB 4, for example, which affects the vitessevitesse data transfer). So even with a device with a USB-C port and a charger or other device with the right specifications, performance can be degraded by the cable…
Ultimately, does this strategy risk harming innovation? It’s possible, but unlikely, at least not for a long time. And again, this only concerns Europe, which will not prevent innovation in the rest of the world. In addition, this only concerns wired charging, which will allow wireless charging to continue to evolve without constraints. But the good news is that this legislation is expected to prevent 11,000 tons of electronic waste each year.
