Standards are hard, mostly because standards aren’t in fact standard, we get it. There are multiple types of standards for the one thing, and even within a standard there are variations and options, but regardless of any of that, I’m over the USB confusion.
We’ve made little secret here that we’re fans of the reversible USB-C connector, and despite the nuances of the USB 3.x standard we’re even fond of most of the enhanced features it brought along, such as reverse charging and USB PD. We’re less fond of the walled garden style changes made recently following Apple’s involvement with the standard.
It’s been a few years since USB 3.0 and the Type-C connector were introduced and I’m amazed at how many accessory devices are still shipping with Micro-USB, at least at the mid and premium tiers. Mobile phones on the whole have made the switch but accessories still seem to be coming out with Micro-USB adaptors.
Well henceforth and furthermore I shall not be buying them, not for me, not for my family and friends and micro-USB will get a dishonourable mention in any review. Why? Because every device that comes out with micro-USB prolongs the agony of just killing the connector once and for all.
I understand that there are supply chains and tooling involved in changing over, but people, they’ve had years — the first USB C device shipped in 2015. It seems some OEMs are using USB-C as a premium feature, holding it back from some device and including it in others.
The time for this to stop has arrived. Micro-USB was a significant improvement in its day, but it’s time to take it behind the shed and shoot it. So OEMs be warned, if your headphones, earbuds, Qi charging stand or giza-ma-bob has a micro-USB in it, it’s outdated before it ships.
