[paxys]

The thing that plugs into the wall is already regulated (for every electronic device, not just chargers). That is why you don't have to rewire your house when you buy a new phone. This directive is specifically for the bit that connects to your phone.

[greglindahl]

And every single Apple phone I've owned so far uses a cable that plugs into USB A. Which is a standard. I'm still using the wall warts I got for my original iPhone. Which have international wall plug kits. Solid, long-lived electronics.

Meanwhile, the burner phones I've bought for when I'm in the EU have these shitty all-in-one wall-to-micro-USB, and I ended up eventually throwing them out. So there's your e-waste.

[PunksATawnyFill]

Micro-USB is shit.

So is Lightning, but at least it’s slightly more robust physically.

USB-C and be done with it.

[viraptor]

Compare the price of an Apple phone to a burner phone and you'll know why they're not great quality. Apple chargers at that price would also suck.

[greglindahl]

The problem with the burner chargers was that they were inflexible. The wall plug couldn't be changed for other countries, and there was no USB A between the wall wart and the cable so I couldn't use it to charge all of my other gadgets.

[viraptor]

Replaceable plug costs more money and I don't expect you spent a lot on your burner phones. My flagship Android did come with a replaceable plug.

The fact you couldn't charge all your other gadgets is the point of the regulation though.

[greglindahl]

It is? Only in some abstract sense. They all already have a cable that plugs into USB A. I'm supposed to throw them all away to move to a new standard interface in a different place?