Apple in violation of EU guidelines for mobile chargers/cables
In 2014, the EU mandated a single standard for charging all mobile phones, to eliminate what was estimated to be 51,000 tonnes of electronic waste generated every year in just the EU.
The standard has been followed by EVERY SINGLE manufacturer of phones, EXCEPT Apple. Pretty much every phone other than the iPhone today uses USB-Micro as a standard way of charging. Chargers and cables can be used interchangeably across all these phones, and many other electronic devices.
Apple also has the unique distinction of having the lousiest quality of Lightning cables - which fray at the end within a few months of use. Obviously, this is an easy way for Apple to make obscene amounts of profits. Apple mandates that third party lightning cables should be MFI certified. And if you go on Amazon.com, you will find a lot of cables that purport to carry this certification, but don't. As a customer, we end up getting shortchanged and we are forced to pay Apple's ridiculous prices just to avoid an unsupported cable message at some awkward time.
I am hoping the EU will make an example of Apple, and penalize them so significantly that it will be a deterrent measure even for a company like Apple sitting on hundreds of billions of dollars of cash. Slap them with several billion dollars fine!
And more than that, I hope that someone initiates a class action lawsuit against Apple for its pricing and policies on cables.
Believe me, there will be many customers who would laugh with pleasure when Apple loses a massive class action suit in this regard!
The standard has been followed by EVERY SINGLE manufacturer of phones, EXCEPT Apple. Pretty much every phone other than the iPhone today uses USB-Micro as a standard way of charging. Chargers and cables can be used interchangeably across all these phones, and many other electronic devices.
Apple also has the unique distinction of having the lousiest quality of Lightning cables - which fray at the end within a few months of use. Obviously, this is an easy way for Apple to make obscene amounts of profits. Apple mandates that third party lightning cables should be MFI certified. And if you go on Amazon.com, you will find a lot of cables that purport to carry this certification, but don't. As a customer, we end up getting shortchanged and we are forced to pay Apple's ridiculous prices just to avoid an unsupported cable message at some awkward time.
I am hoping the EU will make an example of Apple, and penalize them so significantly that it will be a deterrent measure even for a company like Apple sitting on hundreds of billions of dollars of cash. Slap them with several billion dollars fine!
And more than that, I hope that someone initiates a class action lawsuit against Apple for its pricing and policies on cables.
Believe me, there will be many customers who would laugh with pleasure when Apple loses a massive class action suit in this regard!
Comments
I completely agree with you about Apple and their crap cables. The insulation on the power cable for my RMBP is falling apart, and this is the second cable/adapter I have had. The first one I had replaced under warranty for the same issue. Unbelievably shoddy and I think it deserving of a recall program.
A several thousand dollar device and this is the second cable to fall apart.
Definitely agree on the quality of Apple's Lightning cables though. I like the Juicies cables, much more robust.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply
Explicitly mentions Micro-USB-B as the standard for the Cables. But if the manufacturer provides an adapter or cable from Micro-USB-B to any proprietary format, that is also acceptable.
To my knowledge, Apple doesn't provide such an adapter.
But the point is that Apple deserves some solid punishment for the criminal lack of quality and the equally criminal prices they charge for their cables. Plus the confusion around the MFI program.
it was linked to just above your post, too.
And Apple complied with the memo by making it available. End of story.
i am still using all of the original cables I received with all of my Apple products, starting with my 2007 iPhone. My iPhone in particular gives my Lightning connector a major workout in my car. Never once had a problem.