USB-C cables are being highlighted again by members of the European Parliament, where they demanded that all mobile phone companies be obligated to adopt USB-C cables through a near-unanimous vote of 582 to 40 on this resolution. Does this decision include Apple? Will you give up on Kabul? And why all the fuss about the USB-C port and cables?


European Union versus Apple

One of the arguments of the European Union for adopting USB-C cables for all devices is, ``Reducing electronic waste“. Where the lawmakers' decision said, the Commission must adopt new and strict rules by next July, calling for a decision by the European Union to reduce e-waste, and to enable consumers to make comfortable, sustainable and market-friendly choices.

This seems to make sense, in order to limit the number of wires you use for your devices. It is estimated that waste of damaged shipping cords accounts for 51000 tons of e-waste annually. The diversity of plugs means more than a million tons of power adapters are produced annually. Instead of multiple cables, the European Union envisions a world in which one cable is sufficient.

This brings us to the second argument of the European Union:Interoperability“. This is an engineering term that means all devices are unified and configured to work with a single cable. Most newer laptops are already like this, as they charge using USB-C, including the Apple MacBook. This undoubtedly makes it more comfortable for consumers.

MacBook Pro

However, Apple is not satisfied with this matter. Contrary to what the European Union says, Apple says that imposing this change will lead to an "unprecedented volume of electronic waste" because it has more than a billion Apple devices that work with the Lightning cable, and these cables will be introduced over the years as users move to phones. New.


Why USB-C cables?

The European Union has not explicitly said that USB-C will be the standard, but given the phasing out of Micro-USB in favor of USB-C and the tendency of most companies to adopt it, versus only Apple's Lightning cable, all of this makes the tilt in favor of the USB-C cable.

There are many variations of USB-C cables, which are a major drawback that we'll touch on later. In short, this diversity has increased power transmission rates from 5 Gbps for regular cables to 40 Gbps for high-end cables like Thunderbolt 3.0. This high throughput means that video signals and power streams can be transmitted at the same time, which makes HDMI cables redundant.


USB-C limitations

While USB-C cables may be the cables of the future, they are not without flaws. This is because they are not created equal, for example the USB-C cable for MacBook is different from the cable for your phone. The reason for this lies in the following:

◉ USB-C refers to the physical shape of the connector, not the protocol. The specifications inside the cable differ, and this is what determines how much it can transfer and how fast the data can be sent. Better cables, such as USB 3.0 or 3.1, may be able to transfer large video game files, for example, in seconds, while cables that contain older USB 2.0 specifications may take minutes. USB-C cables can also send video to a compatible desktop computer, while other USB-C cables cannot.

◉ Also, cables that are not compatible with the devices can overload the device, overheat and cause damage to the device. Therefore, further development is required on USB-C cables to ensure they are problem-free.


What's next for Apple?

As we mentioned, Apple is not a supporter of the new decision, but it is likely that this change will force it to standardize all of its new cables by 2021. This will definitely push it to find new ways to bring in revenue after the notoriously popular charging cables have turned out to be in their favor.

The cables will likely be completely dispensed with. Apple has already removed the headphone jack and the charging ports may be damaged. Indeed, reports by Cult of Mac indicate that Apple is working on an iPhone without ports for 2021, and depends entirely on wireless connectivity.

There are also concerns that Apple may not follow Qi wireless charging standards that are compatible with other devices. But the European Union has been waiting for them, so such issues are raised early. Parliament also requests the committee to ensure the unification of wireless chargers in all areas, ensuring that they are not restricted to one type or to one device.

Do you agree with standardizing all wires to USB-C? Let us know in the comments.

Source:

slashgear

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