It seems like USB A/C are going to be that. You can already buy outlets that have both mains and USB ports, there are even dual USB C outlets now, that can do 30 watts:
I stayed in a newly built hotel a few years ago that had two USB-A sockets integrated in every single power outlet, both in the room and around the lobby.
What actually worries me about this is that they are all backed by tiny switch mode power supplies, and if not designed and built correctly they have a habit of exploding. So now your hotel has hundreds of potentially explody boxes hidden in the walls.
USB-C doesn't require active cables. Only 100W USB-PD and longer high speeds require active cables. The marker chip for 5A charging cables is cheap.
Both USB-A and USB-C chargers require active logic. USB-C is more complicated because includes both USB-C and legacy USB logic. USB-PD is the most complexity.
In practice I haven't seen USB PD 1.0 in the wild. Most of the non-PD charge standards signal charge rates using varied voltages on the D+/D- lines.
When current manufacturers claim USB-PD they mean PD 2.0 which requires the CC line (Only included in usb-c to usb-c) to signal and set the voltage. When PD 3.0 is included, they usually call it quickcharge 4.0 or PPS.
Looking at that plug and how chunky the holes are for ac power, when access is limited and you can’t see, shoving a usb c plug into the ac hole is going to happen often.
You'd have to shove awfully hard -- hard enough to crumple the metal shell of the USB connector, since it's wider than the opening in 120VAC socket. (I just tried it with a spare electrical outlet, and even with a fairly hard push and wiggling it around, I couldn't make it fit)
Yikes and thanks - I’m in New Zealand and our plugs are way smaller so you couldn’t make that mistake here, but it’s good to know the terminals are far enough in that it’s safe.
I’ve seen some surprising things people have forced into the wrong port. USB into Ethernet etc.
The long vertical slot you could come in contact with is neutral. The bottom peg is ground. The top right vertical strip is hot but it also has recessed connectors and is smaller than the usb c connector.
I'd be impressed if you could cause a short on purpose with significant force let alone fumbling in the dark.
The problem lies in that you're pushing the problem into the hands of anonymous cable makers and clueless end users. It's really difficult to stick a standard plug into a 30 amp socket.
It's really easy to buy some substandard USB-C cable that lies about it's capability.
The same issue would exist with any universal in-wall DC power supply -- if consumers buy a substandard product, it can destroy their device. Unless you want separate ports different voltage/power output then the user has to buy separate cables for each one.
Do to circumstances beyond our control, we had to replace all the outlets in my parent's condo, so we used the USB (A) outlets. It works quite well. I do wonder if we will see USB-C quick charging outlets.
> When the iPhone 12 is released I’ll switch to USB C
Depending on what standards your existing ports support and what power input the iDevice can accept, you may find that a simple A->C adaptor will suffice. You may not get the fastest charge possible so in that case will want to move over sooner rather than later, but this may be an inexpensive (in terms of money and effort) stop-gap measure.
Why wait for the iPhone 12? The current iPhone already charges significantly faster over USB-C than USB-A, as do all iPads released in the past ~3 years.
There's really no reason to worry about it. Battery replacements (at least from Apple) are $70, and all modern phones have sophisticated battery management controllers.
Also, fast charging your battery more often could be better since you're not fully discharging and recharging your battery.
What actually worries me about this is that they are all backed by tiny switch mode power supplies, and if not designed and built correctly they have a habit of exploding. So now your hotel has hundreds of potentially explody boxes hidden in the walls.