this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Saudi Arabia passes law requiring USB-C charges for smartphones::From 2025, Apple's iPhone and all Android smartphones sold in Saudi Arabia will have to have a USB-C charging port, with laptops to follow in 2026.

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[–] Someguy89 42 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Holy shit... This is the first time I've agreed with anything from Saudi Arabia. Who knew basic rights suppressors would be pro consumer lmao.

[–] MeanEYE 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They are not pro-consumer. They are doing this because EU has done it. On the face of things they look progressive and what not, in reality EU really dictates sane laws.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They are not pro-consumer. They are doing this because EU has done it.

Doing it when another country has already done it is still more pro-consumer than not doing it at all.

[–] MeanEYE 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I disagree, because change is going to happen regardless what they decided. Had they been first, then we can say they did it to help consumers. This is more PR than anything else. EU is sufficiently big market so they can throw their weight around and force manufacturers to behave. Not sure Saudi Arabia has enough buying power to do that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

There are phones which aren't sold in the EU which could have other connections. Now they can't be sold in Saudi Arabia as well. It's probably not a large number, but even if it's 1,000 less phones that use a non-USB-C connection, that's still 1,000 phones.

Don't get me wrong, I agree Saudi Arabia is doing this for their external image, but you can't deny it has some consumer benefit for their citizens, however small.

[–] Sheltac 15 points 1 year ago

They’re just following in the EU’s steps in a self-aggrandising move. Everyone knows apple won’t bother with splitting the iphone line and will go with USB-C soon.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Nothing about Saudi Arabia is pro-consumer.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And if you don't use USB-C they'll behead you.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Finally, the punishment fits the crime /s

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

OK. Now copy all other EU laws.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes and then they should jail those who violate basic human rights.

One can dream.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (3 children)

While I agree with the point of these laws, to get everyone on a standard, it's going to suck when the next, better standard comes along and the are all these laws preventing phones from adopting it

[–] qaz 28 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The EU has appointed a committee to reconsider the standards every couple of years and the law allows changing the standard if they decide to. I’m not sure how Saoudi Arabia will deal with this.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

EU attempted to get smartphone manufacturers to agree on a standard so that law wouldn't be necessary to avoid this scenario. Guess which company didn't want to play with the others?

[–] MeanEYE 9 points 1 year ago

Guess which company is now forced to do it in second revision of the same law or is going to get forbidden from selling their devices in EU. Being an asshole strongarming your way around works for certain countries on this planet that have legalized bribing and call it lobbying. EU doesn't give a shit.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

One of the largest Tech companies in the world, is it Orange?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

it’s going to suck when the next, better standard comes along and the are all these laws preventing phones from adopting it

this argument keeps being trotted out.

  1. Standards can change.

  2. The USB-C protocol allows for future improvements. The spec allows for charging at capacities far higher than exist today, and the connection type so far supports USB3.0, 3.1, 3.2, USB4 and even the unfortunately-named USB4v2.0. The USB-C connection type will still be around for USB5.3v2max SuperSpeed or whatever it's called in 2030.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

A step in the right direction, good job

[–] OldWorldOrder 1 points 1 year ago

IMO other countries shouldn't adopt laws like this, the EU and maybe the US should be the only ones, since new standards will take longer to get adopted if every country with this kinda law has to allow it instead of just one or two.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think all smartphone companies should pull out of Saudi Arabia until it has better human rights policies.