this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2023

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Saudi Arabia mandates all electronic devices to use USB-C charging ports from 2025 (www.gsmarena.com)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/technology

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[–] FReddit 138 points 11 months ago

And people will be dismembered if they fail to comply.

[–] [email protected] 99 points 11 months ago (25 children)

Well that's handy, because thanks to the EU that's what everything will be using anyway.

What else are they going to mandate? That sand remains course and irritating? Or more likely demand that the rest of the world stops laughing at their Jetsons city idea.

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[+] abort_christian_babies 76 points 11 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (4 children)

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[–] [email protected] 81 points 11 months ago (6 children)

Not that a new connector is around the corner, but I love how people try to act like this will be an achilles heel for these laws. How long will it take to vote in an amendment that updates the connector?

I get it, being anchored to one connection type sounds good now while it's still somewhat new, but in 10 years it could be a burden. Still, I do not want to go back to the days of every device having a unique barrel connector.

[–] AProfessional 75 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Many people have been taught regulation is bad, not much logic to it.

USB-C as a connector can easily last a decade, much longer for just power delivery.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Exactly! Most electronics are surprisingly low-powered, but USB-C can currently support 100W with a draft spec with upwards of 240W. We'll be fine for awhile.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Yeah, USB-C is fine for even mid-grade laptops. Realistically, if your device is using more than 100W then it probably has an IEC plug (or at least, an in-line power brick with an IEC port) instead. Pretty much the only thing USB-C isn’t suitable for currently is gaming laptops, because those easily draw upwards of 200W.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

They arent suitable for gaming laptops while gaming. They are fine enough to just charge during light/no usage at somewhat reduced speeds.

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[–] LetMeEatCake 19 points 11 months ago (8 children)

I'd be surprised if USB-C was a limitation on phone technology even by 2040. The bandwidth and power delivery capacity are way beyond what are needed now. Data transfers from phones are going to increasingly move to wireless in that time frame too, I expect.

The limitation on the viability of USB-C with phones won't be the actual technological viability of the standard with respect to phones. Instead, the problem for USB-C for phones will be if another standard comes out and starts being used by other devices that do need higher bandwidth or power delivery capability. Monitors, storage devices, laptops (etc.) will eventually need more than USB-C can provide, even with future updates to its capacity. When those switch over to something new, that will be when phones (and other devices) will need to consider a new standard too.

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[–] LucasWaffyWaf 15 points 11 months ago

I collect old handhelds. Each one having a unique charging and/or sync cable fuckin sucks and I'm so glad that USB is ubiquitous. My current daily driver has mini USB for data, but charges using a unique connector that plugs into a unique cradle that sends power to the device when hooked into the cradle. Without the cradle, ya ain't charging this thing.

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[–] [email protected] 61 points 11 months ago (6 children)

USB-C is a connector shape, so there's really no need for a USB-D. What you're thinking of is USB 5.0, except the USB has a penchant for coming up with the dumbest names imaginable. The current latest (I think) version is 3.2 Gen 2x2, so the next major version will probably be called some bullshit like USB 3.2 Gen 2x2+1.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

USB4 is here and is already being called weird stuff.

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[–] scarabic 52 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Prince ibin-whateverface is an Android user and finds lightning annoying. That’s all this says to me. He’s not wrong, btw. For once.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago

See? This is how you should use your authoritarian powers

[–] [email protected] 31 points 11 months ago (10 children)

There is a second stage, starting from April 1, 2026, which will apply to laptops and portable computers.

I'm with them on small devices using USB C, but all laptops is a pretty tall task. Can gaming laptops that need a high voltage even use USB-C? They already struggle with massive charging bricks and thick cables.

[–] [email protected] 58 points 11 months ago (2 children)

The latest USB power delivery standard allows for new voltages of 28, 36, and 48 volts at up to 240 watts at 48V. My current Dell workstation laptop uses two 20V USB C connectors to achieve similar.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

I'm imaginining some kind of monstrosity of a gaming laptop with a power cable that looks like a hydra splitting into three or four USB-C connectors, and it's gloriously silly.

Maybe it's time for a new thing similar to USB 3.0 micro B, with two USB-C connectors next to each other on the same plug.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago (7 children)

I’m chuckling at the idea of someone plugging in an early USB-C device and watching it go up in flames as it gets hit with 48v instead of the 5v that it’s rated for. I know USB-C has a chip that is supposed to negotiate power transfer, but it’s still a funny “what if” thought.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Not gaming (obviously!) but the2019 MacBook Pro has a 140W USB-C charger to a single port.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

2019 is 96w charger. 140w is 2021 or later.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago

I recently bought a gaming laptop. Specifically a Lenovo Legion 5 with a rx 6600. It has both the big powerbrick charger and can be charged via USB-PD, obv not at the same speed but it is an option that is available.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

your gaming laptop is struggling because gaming laptops are scams. you'll never get the performance you want and you'll pay the premium anyways.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Will this global push end up limiting miniaturization of electronics? Even if it does, may still be a worthwhile tradeoff.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago

It aims to eliminate waste by reducing the number of cords and plugs required for various devices. It will surely have to be upgraded and miniaturized as tech progresses, but for now it's one everyone is agreeing on.

One aspect to consider for miniature devices is wireless charging. My watch and my headphones don't even have a port

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