The European Union has passed a new rule requiring smartphones to have batteries that users can easily replace

[Andropov]

Worst part for me about the mandated USB-C situation is that they didn't even manage to make USB-C mandatory for everything. Almost all the non-Apple tech I've bought over the past couple years had USB-A in at least one end of the cable (phone chargers, drive enclosures, microphones, even a shaving machine!).

Ironically I have more cable issues than before, because I have almost no devices/chargers left with USB-A ports, yet I keep getting USB-A only cables on new tech I buy.

If they were going to mandate USB-C, they should have enforced it for the cables and charging bricks too. It's an absurd result of the regulation to allow shipping a phone with a mandated USB-C port but only include a USB-C to USB-A charging cable in the box.

 

[Yoused]

Ironically I have more cable issues than before, because I have almost no devices/chargers left with USB-A ports, yet I keep getting USB-A only cables on new tech I buy.

I suspect by the end of the decade, USB-C will be pervasive. My cousin's 26 Leaf has USB-C only ports, which is kind of a small problem because he has an iPhone SE that is Lightning, and its is just not possible to find a cable that is lightning on one end and USB-C on the other. Fortunately, adapters do exist.

 

[Herdfan]

and its is just not possible to find a cable that is lightning on one end and USB-C on the other. Fortunately, adapters do exist.

Apple makes one.