All laptops sold in Europe will have to support USB-C charging starting in 2026.
Europe to Force Laptop Makers to Adopt USB-C for Charging : Read more
Europe to Force Laptop Makers to Adopt USB-C for Charging : Read more
USB-C is fragile and can't supply enough power for a high end laptop. Dell and others make high-end desktops where the power is split between 2 USB-C connectors.Electrically, USB-C is not a good standard for powering a laptop while it's in use. You don't want to be regularly pushing so much power over such a small connector, if you can avoid it. This is why a lot of docks will use multiple USB-C ports to power a laptop. I'd go as far as saying its a completely terrible standard once you factor in the massive oversaturation of unsuitable low-power dollar-store fire hazard phone chargers in circulation.
But if it were to just to be a requirement that a powered-off laptop can be trickle charged over USB, in addition to its power brick... Then that would be no big deal. Most new laptops can already do that, anyways.
Talking to some people loosely involved in the decision to use 20V, the 20V setting was arbitrary and could easily been at least 24V max. With the 20V max, TI then designed their controllers on a 28V process, which don't have enough headroom to operate very far above 20V. It took someone big to convince TI to design a new set of PD parts using a higher voltage process, as well as the standards committee adopting it.b.F.t.....
they should have done this like 5-7 years ago, when it was quickly becoming obvious (at least to anyone with 1/2 a brain) that USB-C would be the new standard connector for the foreseeable future....
I don't much care for gov't intervention in these types of issues either, but if that's what it takes, so be it
Why do I have the feeling Apple will find some way to "Spite" the EU mandate like making the USB-C connector "Power Only" and still keep the Lightning Port in their devices alongside a very "GIMPED" USB-C connector.
You know Apple collects a small royalty for every Lightning connector and port put into any 3rd party device or cable.
I don't see how Apple would ever want to give up that "Royalty" stream.
Nah, I think Apple will give you the SLOWEST form of USB Power Delivery and call it a day.Do the EU council check the actual power requirement for every device ?
If not, then all Apple got to do is put small label on their product that says "This product required 101 Watt" to eligible not using USB-C
That's even more of a reason / justification to "Lock Down" their EU mandated USB-C port to the LOWEST form of USB Power Delivery across any cable and call it a day.Having a standard plug is only half the battle. Power adapters with USB plugs cover such a broad range of power delivery specs and quirks, I suspect all the EU will end up with is a bunch of complaints about "USB-C" chargers other than OE not working within expectations with their higher-powered devices because their laptop, portable gaming console or whatever else requires a specific power profile the adapter doesn't advertise. Then you also have the whole mess of people needing to be aware that special cables with an ID chip are required to enable high-current (5A) mode and even more special cables with a different ID chip are required for voltages beyond 20V.
USB-C is becoming a nightmare.
It is a good decision, indeed!All laptops sold in Europe will have to support USB-C charging starting in 2026.
Europe to Force Laptop Makers to Adopt USB-C for Charging : Read more
100% agree with this. I don’t like government making rules that affect everybody that’s not their job. Their job is to secure the borders and take care of roads. not be nannies.While in this one case this is a good thing (USB-C is a great format), I dont like the idea of government mandates for things like this.
My understanding is yes they do test as a part of the CE accreditation these devices require to be sold.Do the EU council check the actual power requirement for every device ?
If not, then all Apple got to do is put small label on their product that says "This product required 101 Watt" to eligible not using USB-C