I've read with interest over the past couple of days the European Commission's recommendation that USB-C be adopted as a universal standard for charging ports and cables on all electronic devices in the European Union—to the exclusion of all others. It's a nice thought that seems reasonable on the surface but like most things in life, it's far more complicated than it appears.
The recommendation is aimed at reducing e-waste by freeing users from the need to replace their chargers and cables every time they acquire a new device. It would also free manufacturers from including chargers and cables with said devices, turning those items into potentially profitable a la carte purchases for consumers. If made law, it would directly affect the European Union nations but would also indirectly affect other nations, including the United States, since it is arguably more cost effective for manufacturers to standardize their offerings worldwide.
In theory, such a requirement could eventually bring order to the cable chaos most people experience in their homes and from which I am no exception. Looking at my own devices and connectors, two of my three laptops have proprietary connectors. Only one, a Chromebook, uses USB-C. The same is true of my tablets: my iPad Air uses an Apple Lightning connector, as does my iPhone, while my older Amazon Fire HD8 tablet uses micro USB and my newer Fire HD10 tablet uses USB-C. A host of other devices, including Roku boxes, charging cases for wireless earbuds and portable battery pack chargers. And that's not to mention a couple of old iPods with their obsolete 30-pin connectors that simply refuse to die.
For many of these devices, there is no choice but to use their dedicated power bricks, although I often have duplicates for use at home and on the go. In other cases, I have employed USB outlet expanders to create charging stations where I commonly use certain devices. These outlet expanders combine multiple 110-volt outlets with USB plugs to power and/or charge devices, which largely eliminates the need for individual USB power bricks; for instance, I have USB cords for each of my tablets plugged directly into a USB outlet expander in my bedroom with the Lightning cable serving both my iPad and iPhone. But that doesn't mean I don't need the charging bricks. I carry one with me when I travel so I can charge the devices I carry along on the trip. The caveat here is I don't necessarily carry the original brick along with me.
While moving to a single connector—ostensibly USB-C—may be a laudable goal, it would not be possible for me to do so without replacing the majority of my devices. At present, I only use two devices that are equipped with USB-C ports, two with Lightning ports, and about eight with micro-USB. Suffice it to say, I will continue a multi-port existence for the foreseeable future.
What USB-C Gets Right
To be sure, USB-C, in many ways, fulfills and expands upon what the USB standard has promised since it first appeared in the late '90s. It supports rapid battery charging, high-speed data transfer and even audio and video, making it really the only port one needs. The symmetrical plug itself is a vast improvement over the asymmetrical mini-USB plug it is replacing in that you don't have to pay attention to its orientation when you plug it in. The same is true of the Apple Lightning connector and it is one of the reasons I will not miss micro-USB when it is finally dead and gone.
What USB-C Gets Wrong
The heading above may be a bit of an over-simplification but USB-C does have its shortcomings, not the least of which is that it hides multiple standards behind a common plug. If you don't believe me, try plugging a USB-C laptop into a phone or tablet charger. It simply doesn't provide enough power to charge the battery. Likewise, other USB-C devices may well promise charging or data transfer performance that can only be achieved with USB-C accessories specifically engineered for that device. This will inevitably lead to a degree of confusion and disappointment that will leave some consumers feeling intentionally or unintentionally deceived or that manufacturers could be over-promising and under-delivering.
Industry Response
The degree to which manufacturers would be affected by such a law would vary significantly. Some, like Samsung, are pretty much there already. Others, like Apple, would need to redesign entire product lines and are understandably protesting the recommendation. What Apple and others have already done is to omit the cable and charger from the box. In Apple's case, it would seem to me that a Lightning to USB-C adapter/dongle, either included with the device or as a separate purchase, should be an acceptable solution. Perhaps simply including a certificate or redemption code in the box for customers who need an adapter to order one would be even better in terms of satisfying both the needs of consumers and the goals of the European Commission.
The other side of this coin would be to establish realistic expectations and this may require expanding the USB-C standard to include various levels or classes. These could include designations for whether a device or cable supports multimedia or data transfer as well as charging classes based on wattage. While it would necessarily add a layer or two of complexity, it would also potentially enhance understanding and thus foster more realistic expectations.
Whether or not the EU adopts the USB-C recommendations and how far they push them if they do remains to be seen but USB-C is here to stay. The big question remaining is how effectively to we adopt and implement it.
UPDATE (January 2025)--Apple is presently phasing out the last of its Lightning-equipped products, the iPhone 14 series, to make room for newer models with USB-C. These are no longer available in Europe, and are slated for discontinuation in the North American market later this year, to make room for the iPhone 17 series, which like the iPhone 15 and 16, will use USB-C.
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