New USB-C rule might spare some devices

India is more likely to exclude featurephones, wearables and hearables from having a USB Type-C port for mobiles and electronics that the federal government is proposing to make necessary by March 2025, according to necessities being put in place by the EU.

A senior official mentioned the exclusion is being thought-about in precept after business gamers who might get impacted by the transfer raised considerations about enter prices turning into excessive which might make featurephones a lot costlier.

“For mobiles and electronics, USB Type-C port has been made necessary, the business gamers are additionally in board, however for featurephones, wearables and hearables, stakeholders have mentioned that prices would improve,” the official mentioned.

He added that India, not like the EU, had a big 250 million-strong marketplace for featurephones which doesn’t use USB Type-C chargers. India can be the world’s largest marketplace for wearables and hearables, which use various kinds of USB charging factors. This makes it completely different from developed markets of Europe the place most customers are smartphone customers and a great majority of them use iPhones. The authorities has created a subcommittee to determine on a standard charging level for hearables and wearables.

As per EU instructions all smartphones together with iPhones bought in its member- states ought to include a standard USB Type C charger from 28 December, 2024. Laptop makers have been given until 2026 to conform. India will comply with related timelines however will give corporations three to 4 months extra to conform, officers mentioned.

Laptop makers in India may also have to incorporate USB Type C charger ports in all of the fashions for which a redesign will happen for all producers at massive scale, necessitating an extended timeline of two years.

Globally, over 98% Android smartphones use USB Type-C as charging port, whereas iPhones depend on proprietary Lightning port.

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