Your Next Phone Might Come Without a USB Cable (androidauthority.com)
- Reference: 0179705904
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/10/08/0034209/your-next-phone-might-come-without-a-usb-cable
- Source link: https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphones-losing-bundled-usb-cables-3604292/
> Now, it looks like we may be in for a similar shift with bundled USB cables. As shared on the Linus Tech Tips subreddit, user [2]Brick_Fish 's recently purchased Sony Xperia 10 VII came without a charger or a charging cable. In a photo included with the post, you can see iconography on the back of the phone's box that spells out these omissions. Sony's not really a major player in the smartphone space these days, but this seems like the type of trend we should expect to see gain traction over the next couple of years. [...]
>
> Apple actually beat Sony to the punch here, in a way. The company's latest earbuds, the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3, both ditched bundled USB cables, as well. Still, Sony's the first manufacturer I've heard of to omit charging cables with its smartphones.
[1] https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphones-losing-bundled-usb-cables-3604292/
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/LinusTechTips/comments/1nze31k/the_newest_sony_phone_doesnt_include_any_charging/
Good (Score:2)
The last thing I need is another USB cable that's too short to do anything useful with, and too flimsy to carry real amounts of either data or power.
It is both (Score:4, Insightful)
It does have environmental benefits because there is no point in amassing 20+ USB cables over time, and companies increase their profits.
If course, it would have been nice if they'd removed the cables and made the products cheaper.
They will keep the savings (Score:2)
Come on man, they're never going to drop prices unless it results in more profits.
Any 'green' savings is completely coincidental and heavily marketed for conscientious consumers to make them feel like they're doing some good while they buy more shit they probably don't need.
Re: (Score:2)
How would you actually know if removing a USB dropped the price? The packaging probably cost more than the cable.
Re: (Score:2)
What "savings"? Despite the $20 you get charged for a USB cable retail, you have to know they cost literally 20 to make.
Re: (Score:1)
> What "savings"? Despite the $20 you get charged for a USB cable retail, you have to know they cost literally 20 to make.
It is quite astonishing to see that this is still a thing. It appears that Best Buy figured out how to get prices to something reasonable, for the most part. There can still be a "have it right now" premium but it's not near what it used to be. I was in one of the stores for my then cell phone service provider to pay my bill or something and thought while I was there I'd pick up a spare charging cable. When I was informed they wanted $20 for it I informed the CSR that there is a Best Buy across the park
Re: (Score:2)
Especially for Apple since their goal is probably to sell you their Qi charging system.
Long since switched to magnetic quick-connects (Score:2)
I have long-since switch to magnetic quick-connect cables and a little magnetic dongle on each device. This way regardless of the type of end my device needs (there are still a surprising number of micro and mini USB devices around) they all take the same cable. I haven't used a "provided" cable in years.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't they violate the technical USB standard though? Meaning if there's a problem, the warranty likely won't hold?
Re: (Score:2)
I use these on everything as well, unless I'm updating all the music folders on my phone. They also act as dust/moisture covers for the jack.
Fine by me (Score:5, Insightful)
I probably have 200+ USB cables and another one is a nuisance and not a feature.
Re: (Score:2)
I also bought nice charging bricks. I don't need any more.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, the summary is framing this as some type of "greed".
"...the main driver behind these decisions for companies like Apple and Sony is, of course, profit,"
Re: (Score:2)
I'm sure it is greed. But it's the right kind of greed: "Let's not spend money including something that nobody wants anyway." The PR benefits of eco-posturing are just a side benefit.
Re: (Score:1)
> I also bought nice charging bricks. I don't need any more.
Some time ago I realized I had a power strip at my desk that had half the outlets occupied by USB-A power bricks and a shortage of outlets to plug in 120VAC devices. I found a style of power strip that had 4 USB-A power outlets and 6 120 VAC outlets. After that I had power bricks out my ears.
I gave a handful of USB power bricks to Mom, and also a handful of 1 meter long USB-A to Lightning cables for her iPad and iPhone. Now she's not swapping power cables and power bricks to charge up her little portable
Re: (Score:2)
Oh yeah, I have plenty of leftover USB-A to Micro USB or USB-A to Lightning cables from my old devices.
What I'm short on is new USB-A to USB-C and USB-C to USB-C cables. Basically all of my new devices use those, and the cheap ones that came with my devices are already wearing out.