Submitted 22 hours ago by BrikoX@lemmy.zip to technology@lemmy.zip
It seems like OEMs are becoming brave enough to stop bundling a USB charging cable in their phone’s packaging.
Hot take, I don’t mind it - my drawer of questionably compliant OEM cables is overflowing. Less plastic waste is a win, as long as everyone sticks to USB-C.
The issue is there’s a dozen different types of usb-c and not all cords are compatible with each type.
The cable you get with a phone is going to be the most basic of basic cable there is.
Whoopdy-fuck. Most of the bundled cables are absolute shitstring to begin with
With so many non-standard cables and chargers, it’s crazy to me that this is what manufacturers want their customer experience to be. My mom had no idea she was trickle charging for over a year until I visited. Neither the brick or the cable was capable of fast charging. She said it took all night to charge, like that’s a normal thing. She’s not into electronic tech and I’d imagine she’s not the only one in the world.
Non standard cables and chargers either wouldn’t connect, wouldn’t charge, or would burn something up if you used the wrong one.
Non-standard as in there’s no standard in cables. Some support fast charging some don’t. Some support hdmi, some don’t support data at all. They won’t catch fire to anything. If the bricks are under powered because they were meant for a kids toy it won’t catch fire, it just won’t charge as fast.
If a manufacturer suddenly decides to support 500W charging, none of us will have the gear to support that and companies like Anker or UGREEN will be more than willing to price gouge the cables and bricks we would need. It’s already happening at 65W.
That said, one thing that OEMs never say out publicly is that they are also saving a ton of money by retaining their device's price tag and still ditching accessories in the process.
I guessed so.
But wouldn’t it be equally valid to frame it the other way around that so far we have paid for them to be included, whether we like it or not?
I mean the price to manufacture them doesn’t change and companies werent charities before either.
Feels like in a functioning market this should just sort itself out. At least if it is transparent whether the phone includes accessories or not. People could factor this into their pricing decision.
The more interesting argument imo is the one another comment in this thread made, that this way muss matches between phone and charger/cable capabilities might happen. Which seems like a double edged sword. One the one hand manufacturers can advertise great charging speeds and people might not realize that only expensive chargers might be able to achieve those. On the other hand as the comment points out customers might not get the expected performance leading to frustration and negative associations with the particular brand.
But wouldn't it be equally valid to frame it the other way around that so far we have paid for them to be included, whether we like it or not?
But then you have it. Sell it, put it in another room, give it away. They should lower the phone price by the amount of whatever they charge for the charger. They should also give buyers the option to have it included or not, especially in this economy.
Good, everyone has enough USB cables by now, and they’re not expensive if you don’t.
Phones may come without a Phone in the future, if OEMs have their way
Clearly their ultimate goal
Weren’t we already pissed and over it like 5-10 years ago? Why is this coming up again?
Honestly, who cares? This is one of those “issues” I feel like only people with way too much time on their hands care about, and that’s coming from someone with way too much time on their hands.
Also ignorant people care about it. Somehow thinking that cable is meant for that phone specifically or something like that. Source: Worked in retail
Had a guy on eBay wanting me to overnight a long outdated Fast Ethernet (10/100) switch because theirs had died. I was too late to get the message and lost the sale. Wrote him back saying any switch would work. NOPE. Had to be replaced with the exact model.
That’s okay. I can use one of the 20 cables I have already laying around.
My wife will be happy the box of random cables will start growing at a lesser pace
Sony already does this. (Xperia 1 VI)
Their phone box looks like I got it off temu.
You pay more for less so the numbers go up.
Its just not you numbers.
Ditch your friends and play incremental games instead, i guess.
They will then pocket the savings and remove the unlocked bootloader next.
Most already have.
BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
A thing you buy should always include all the things you need to use it. Not just a charger and cable, that includes batteries where relevant.