Ordered a set of rechargeable AA batteries and charger. They’re well reviewed and a decent brand. Specifically wanted the charger since it has USB input rather than 120v so I could top the batteries off from my laptop / power bank as they’ll be used for my wireless KB/mouse. The product description only said “USB input” and didn’t specify what flavor. Being 2025, you expect USB-C.
Received them today, and they use micro USB input. Now I have to keep yet another cable in my bag. Day mildly ruined.
Might be because the tech(charger) itself isn’t updated for years. I still get micro sometime for some cheapo stuff, that’s why i always have the cable on standby.
Probably, yeah. I was similarly disappointed when my Kobo came with micro USB, but considering I love everything else about it, I gave it a pass. That, and I typically only have to charge it once a month.
I’ve got USB-C to micro adapters, but I’ve only got 4 of them and either keep losing them or they get semi-permanently installed to a Raspberry Pi or something.
Yep.
Re-engineering is expensive, and so is the licensing of USB-C (along with the port cost, and revamping the manufacturing process, and sourcing, etc).
The device would no longer be inexpensive, and it has no need of USB-C capability.
There’s lots more involved than just the port connector itself.
Considering $10 disposable vapes all come with USB-C, I can’t imagine the cost difference is really that great.
If it’s just for charging, a USB-C port is just a different part. The charge controller and everything can stay “dumb” if it’s a low power device.
The USB-C spec is complicated and to take full advantage of it is expensive like you said, but I think just using a modern form factor isn’t expensive.
Holup, they need licence to use it in their device?
Hot damn that shit don’t come cheap either!
That’s just for a vendor ID though for data, right? For basic 5V power (non-Power Delivery), they’d just need the socket and a couple of resistors. I’ve got some cheap-ass devices with USB-C, and even disposable vapes (yuck) have USB-C for charging.
I keep one of those little adapters…dont need a whole cable.
Also I have the impression that lifetime of products has increased again over the past decade or so.
Still rocking my Sony ebook reader from 2011 and a Samsung Galaxy S5 as backup and Whatsapp handy. Both are using Micro USB, so I have a small cable with me anyways.