4 ms·

Makes sense! Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility. I will be interested to see how they communicate

Makes sense! Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility. I will be interested to see how they communicate this to prevent first time iPhone users being left without a charging cable/power brick.

robin_reala 6y ago
Not just flexibility, but a reasonable reduction in e-waste.
kace91 6y ago
>Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility. Only if the charger price is deduced from the phone’s price or you can opt in to get one for free if you need it. Otherwise it’s very obviously screwing up consumers to optimize earnings once again.
ksec 6y ago
>Makes sense! Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger I am willing to bet money the overwhelming majority consumer dont have USB-C chargers, only USB-A.
- _trampeltier 6y ago
  Yes, I think so too. And i think there are even different standarts for charging.
- christophilus 6y ago
  But maybe Apple consumers will? I have a number of USB-C cables. Anyway, I agree that reducing waste is good, but this move isn’t about waste. If Apple cared about waste, they’d come up with some way of keeping old devices out of landfills.
  - shadowfiend 6y ago
    They have. Trade in programs, recycling drop offs at their store, refurbishment programs, robots that take the phones apart for reuse (https://www.cnet.com/news/how-apples-daisy-iphone-recycling-robot-works/ https://www.cnet.com/news/how-apples-daisy-iphone-recycling-...). Imperfect, but approached from many sides.
  - ksec 6y ago
    >But maybe Apple consumers will? I dont think that is likely. Outside of tech circle, most have never even touched a USB-C Cable. Especially those only uses iPhone, and not iPad or Mac. There are 1 Billion iPhone users, and only 100M Mac users ( And not every Mac users has a USB-C Mac ). Not saying it is a bad thing. Most would already have a USB-A to Lightning Cable along with Charger so this doesn't matter. USB4 will be USB-C only anyway, but the move is certainly unApple as they tend to plan this in the very long run. Like including a USB-C 5W Charger for a few years before completely dropping it.
nailer 6y ago
> Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility. Sure, but if they do have a USB C charger, is it the right voltage?
- moron4hire 6y ago
  Voltage is standardized
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - nailer 6y ago
    I know with regular USB C (not USB C to lightning), it's definitely not standardized - some chargers output 5V, some 20V, some 45V. Are you saying lightning changes this?
    - JustResign 6y ago
      USB PD involves negotiation -- the charger doesn't just "push" 20V to a device that isn't asking for it.
      - nailer 6y ago
        Exactly. So: non-tech aware customer has a 5v USB 3 charger, buys an iPhone 12, and wonder why it charges 10x slower than their friend's new phone.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
rbinv 6y ago
I would have agreed if you had said Micro-USB. I own tens of those with no USB-C charger in sight.
- arghwhat 6y ago
  Hopefully you don't have micro-USB chargers, but USB chargers and micro-usb cables. I don't use Apple products, but reducing waste like this is great. Most people should have buckets of chargers by now, and even if they lack the cable, it's better to buy when needed.
  - kohtatsu 6y ago
    [With regards to waste;] 3rd party chargers have been ridiculously unreliable with the lightning connector. No idea what is so hard to get right, but I've never had a ~$10 cable last more than a year, sometimes just a couple months or a week. I'm not particularly rough with them, just plug them in a couple times a day at my desk or bed. Sometimes my girlfriend's iPhone uses my charger as well, which can seem to expedite their failure. We have one which chargers hers fine, but only mine when plugged in a specific side up.
    - lorenzhs 6y ago
      A lot of the time when people have trouble with charging cables, it's caused by pocket lint in the phone's charging port, so maybe try that? I use a bent paperclip, but I'm sure there are more gentle ways.
      - rbinv 6y ago
        Couldn't a paperclip potentially short the "pins"?
        lorenzhs 6y ago
        Maybe, but there’s nothing to short without a cable plugged in afaik? I don’t think the voltage lines are powered in the idle state. I’ve never had a problem at least.
soco 6y ago
And many consumers already have headphones, cases, old screens lying around, why not charge full price for an empty box and allow you build your own iPhone from parts ordered separately. Fans will be more than thrilled.
orev 6y ago
Most Apple customers have USB-A chargers, and the phone side is Lightning, not USB, so lack of USB-C is irrelevant.

robin_reala 6y ago

Not just flexibility, but a reasonable reduction in e-waste.

kace91 6y ago

>Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility. Only if the charger price is deduced from the phone’s price or you can opt in to get one for free if you need it. Otherwise it’s very obviously screwing up consumers to optimize earnings once again.

ksec 6y ago

>Makes sense! Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger I am willing to bet money the overwhelming majority consumer dont have USB-C chargers, only USB-A.

_trampeltier 6y ago
Yes, I think so too. And i think there are even different standarts for charging.
christophilus 6y ago
But maybe Apple consumers will? I have a number of USB-C cables. Anyway, I agree that reducing waste is good, but this move isn’t about waste. If Apple cared about waste, they’d come up with some way of keeping old devices out of landfills.
- shadowfiend 6y ago
  They have. Trade in programs, recycling drop offs at their store, refurbishment programs, robots that take the phones apart for reuse (https://www.cnet.com/news/how-apples-daisy-iphone-recycling-robot-works/ https://www.cnet.com/news/how-apples-daisy-iphone-recycling-...). Imperfect, but approached from many sides.
- ksec 6y ago
  >But maybe Apple consumers will? I dont think that is likely. Outside of tech circle, most have never even touched a USB-C Cable. Especially those only uses iPhone, and not iPad or Mac. There are 1 Billion iPhone users, and only 100M Mac users ( And not every Mac users has a USB-C Mac ). Not saying it is a bad thing. Most would already have a USB-A to Lightning Cable along with Charger so this doesn't matter. USB4 will be USB-C only anyway, but the move is certainly unApple as they tend to plan this in the very long run. Like including a USB-C 5W Charger for a few years before completely dropping it.

nailer 6y ago

> Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility. Sure, but if they do have a USB C charger, is it the right voltage?

moron4hire 6y ago
Voltage is standardized
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- nailer 6y ago
  I know with regular USB C (not USB C to lightning), it's definitely not standardized - some chargers output 5V, some 20V, some 45V. Are you saying lightning changes this?
  - JustResign 6y ago
    USB PD involves negotiation -- the charger doesn't just "push" 20V to a device that isn't asking for it.
    - nailer 6y ago
      Exactly. So: non-tech aware customer has a 5v USB 3 charger, buys an iPhone 12, and wonder why it charges 10x slower than their friend's new phone.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

rbinv 6y ago

I would have agreed if you had said Micro-USB. I own tens of those with no USB-C charger in sight.

arghwhat 6y ago
Hopefully you don't have micro-USB chargers, but USB chargers and micro-usb cables. I don't use Apple products, but reducing waste like this is great. Most people should have buckets of chargers by now, and even if they lack the cable, it's better to buy when needed.
- kohtatsu 6y ago
  [With regards to waste;] 3rd party chargers have been ridiculously unreliable with the lightning connector. No idea what is so hard to get right, but I've never had a ~$10 cable last more than a year, sometimes just a couple months or a week. I'm not particularly rough with them, just plug them in a couple times a day at my desk or bed. Sometimes my girlfriend's iPhone uses my charger as well, which can seem to expedite their failure. We have one which chargers hers fine, but only mine when plugged in a specific side up.
  - lorenzhs 6y ago
    A lot of the time when people have trouble with charging cables, it's caused by pocket lint in the phone's charging port, so maybe try that? I use a bent paperclip, but I'm sure there are more gentle ways.
    - rbinv 6y ago
      Couldn't a paperclip potentially short the "pins"?
      - lorenzhs 6y ago
        Maybe, but there’s nothing to short without a cable plugged in afaik? I don’t think the voltage lines are powered in the idle state. I’ve never had a problem at least.

soco 6y ago

And many consumers already have headphones, cases, old screens lying around, why not charge full price for an empty box and allow you build your own iPhone from parts ordered separately. Fans will be more than thrilled.

orev 6y ago

Most Apple customers have USB-A chargers, and the phone side is Lightning, not USB, so lack of USB-C is irrelevant.