EU proposes mandatory USB-C on all devices, including iPhones

[Rob_D]

All "USB-C" really is is the connector type - kind of like RJ45. And think of all the nonsense you can run along a Cat5e cable if you put the right kit on the ends.

[southhamster]

I find laptops/Chromebooks with only 1 USB-C port idiotic. Any damage to the fragile connector and it's scrap. At least 2 ports are needed. It's also much easier to reflow a round pin power/3.5mm connector than a damn surface mount multi pin thing. Same applies to 3.5mm jack sockets, nice and robust and repairable (and fit headphones neatly without a fragile USB-C adapter.

[Garacesh]

USB-C as a laptop charge port is garbage and I will die on this hill. It's far too fragile. Phones it isn't too bad because the potential stress on the connector is relative to the weight of the device and thus is reasonably low. Laptops? Whole different story.

 

I'm all for standardising charging to do away with all the proprietary landfill, but I think phones/handheld devices and medium-sized/weight portable devices need different connectors.

[3s-gtech]

I’ve had success with getting Lenovo laptops warranty repaired when the port has died - new mainboard. It really should be a daughterboard!

They’re not resilient enough by far.

[hardtailstar]

I work with Macs and quite often any macs before M1s with USB C charging fail quite often. M1 Airs with USB C charging Ive not seen any fail yet.

[dmj]

Back when I was working at a school with 1:1 Chromebooks, we saw many, USB-C charging port failures. It's a really common failure mode. It's also really easy to fix. It does require an outlay in equipment: a decent soldering station, microscope and air filtration system. It's not terribly hard to do and we must have saved thousands of pounds replacing these ports when they get damaged. A daughterboard would have been welcomed, but the manufacturer's know it's a common issue and it helps with their planned obsolescence - they are designed to fail.