I wonder if the charging port on mobile devices will go the way of the 3.5mm jack and be replaced with Qi and other wireless charging protocols. I also wonder if we will be forced into Bluetooth for all extension devices we used to connect to usb-c.

  • @huginn@feddit.it
    9•7 months ago

    We’ll see. The rumors have been around… But Europe just required that they add a USB-C charging port to all devices. They can’t afford to ignore the mandates of the EU.

    I don’t think they’ll get a pass for not having any port at all: the EU is the last remaining regulator.

    • @BorgDrone
      6•7 months ago

      The EU does not require a charging port, it only says that if you have a charging port it must be USB-C.

        • @BorgDrone
          2•7 months ago

          Nope.

          Look at the actual directive , not some press release. Note that this is an older directive, but the common charger directive only describes the changes that need to be made to the earlier directive. The first link is to the latest updated version of that directive.

          I quote (emphasis mine):

          In so far as they are capable of being recharged by means of wired charging, the categories or classes of radio equipment referred to in point 1 of this Part shall:

          2.1. be equipped with the USB Type-C receptacle, as described in the standard  (…)

          2.2. be capable of being charged with cables which comply with the standard (…)

          At the moment the directive does not prescribe a universal standard for wireless charging, but does reserve the right to do so in the future. (At the moment it doesn’t seen necessary as everyone seems to be adopting QI)

          • @huginn@feddit.it
            2•7 months ago

            Thanks for linking the actual directive.

            To be fair: it wasn’t “some press release” - it was the official statement on the matter by Parliament.

            Quoting from the directive:

            When preparing the delegated acts referred to in this Article with respect to radio equipment capable of being recharged by means of wired charging, as well as with respect to radio equipment capable of being recharged by means other than wired charging, the Commission shall take into account the degree of market acceptance of the technical specifications under consideration, the resulting consumer convenience and the extent of the reduction of environmental waste and market fragmentation that can be expected from such technical specifications.

            Given that they’re focused on reduction of waste and reduction of market fragmentation there’s definitely a question mark over only QI based charging. I think they’ve left themselves significant latitude to smack down any attempts to fully go to wireless charging without a port.

            Remains to be seen if they will.

            • @BorgDrone
              2•7 months ago

              Given that they’re focused on reduction of waste and reduction of market fragmentation there’s definitely a question mark over only QI based charging.

              I don’t see how you can get that from the text. The way I read it, wired and wireless charging are separate. There is nothing in the directive that mandates one should be used over the other. They explicitly require USB-C for wired charging, but do not put any requirements on wireless, as there doesn’t seem to be any significant fragmentation on the wireless side (i.e. no need to enforce a standard if everyone already agrees on a standard).

              • @huginn@feddit.it
                1•7 months ago

                My quote explicitly ties wired and wireless charging together into the document. They left it open in saying “we’re not establishing any rules yet but these go hand in hand and we’ll immediately start looking at wireless charging in the context of e-waste”.

                • @BorgDrone
                  1•7 months ago

                  My quote explicitly ties wired and wireless charging together into the document.

                  It just says they are keeping an eye on developments in both wireless and wired charging standards. Not a word on requiring either on any device.