Europe backs call for universal smartphone charger

cepheus

Hurrah, standardisation is worth being in Europe all by itself! I hate different plugs and sockets, and having to buy bespoke equipment. It's the biggest rip off of all.

The maddening scramble to find the right charger for your smartphone could be coming to an end.

[Deleted User]

I bet Apple won't follow suit..

DCFC79

Thought this had already been agreed but looking at this link I dont think much had been agreed on.

Its about time I say.

Gloomendoom

All thee of the phones I have had since 2004 have had either a mini or a micro USB charger.

I didn't realise it was such a big deal.

kwikbreaks

Yeah I think most use micro USB now. Apart from Apple of course who would probably use proprietary light and sound if they could.

Google seem to be moving towards supporting wireless charging which is expensive at the moment but could take off and become cheaper.

S0litaire

It's partly the mini / micro USB, but think they are trying to standardise the power used.

If you get and 2 phones the chargers all fit.

but if the charger is giving to much amps it can cause the phone to heat up and not charge probably. Or if it's too little it might take longer too charge and with either option the battery "power left" calibration will be off.

bob_a_builder

Current (amps) is/are taken not given
charger needs to be able to provide the reqd current as a minimum but more won't hurt

S0litaire

All I know is when I plug my nexus4 phone into my nexus7 tablet charger, the phone heats up and it messes with the charge left readings.

sillygoose

Needs to go one step further for micro USB, put the flamin sockets the same way up on all devices!!!!

I have many devices and the socket varies across them, some the wider side faces front, others faces back. My eyesight without reading glasses isn't too good to see the shape of the socket so I often try it the wrong way before correcting. Unnecessary wear and tear on the plugs and sockets.

Isn't the next generation USB sockets supposed to be truly reversible I though I heard?

Norman_Castle

^ Marking the top of the plug and socket with a coloured dot could help. I've put a small white sticker on the top of regularly used usb plugs which is much easier to see than an embossed usb symbol. Tippex would also work.

colin79666

Yes the next gen of USB will follows Apple's lightning idea of being reversible.
I'm not sure how I feel about this ruling. While yes, having different connectors can be annoying I worry this will actually make things worse. If micro USB isn't going to do everything required then manufacturers will have to put both a charging and a data socket in the phone or every handset will have to come with a tiny, fiddly adaptor. Take an iPhone 5/5s/5c for example, micro USB can't do everything lightning can. Innovation could end up being stifled with this, politicians interfering with technology often ends up with poor results.