While the iPhone has moved from Apple’s Lightning connector to USB-C ports, standardizing smartphone charging cables to comply with European Union law, the same is not true for smartwatches. Each company has its own cable that attaches to the device using magnets or pogo pin connectors, meaning you can’t charge, say, an Apple Watch with a Samsung Galaxy Watch charger. What’s even more frustrating is that some brands don’t even use the same charger for different models of their own devices, with Fitbit being the worst offender.
Theoretically, the best way to solve this mismatch problem would be to migrate everyone to USB-C, as it is efficient and already used for devices ranging from the iPad to the Nintendo Switch 2. However, it’s not that simple. On the one hand, adding USB-C ports to smartwatches would negate their waterproofing, impacting the best wearables for swimmers. A port would also take up space on a device that already needs to make the most of its small form factor. Smartwatches and fitness trackers, especially thin ones, simply don’t have room for a USB-C port.
Another reason why smartwatch chargers vary is that these devices come in different shapes and sizes. Compare that to smartphones which, despite all the different makes and models, are quite similar. Due to the diversity of smartwatches, it’s understandable that each manufacturer uses their own charging technology, even aside from the desire to sell you their special cords. However, implementing a standard smartwatch charger would be better for both consumers and the environment.
Standardizing smartwatch charging would be an interesting challenge
Each smartwatch manufacturer has its own proprietary charger means your old charger might not be compatible with a new device, and it almost certainly won’t work if you move from one brand to another. This contributes to the production of e-waste, which is rarely disposed of or recycled properly, leading to pollution and waste of recoverable natural resources.
Unfortunately, universalizing smartwatch chargers would not be simple. Since USB-C ports are not a viable option (for the reasons discussed above), there is no clear standard to adopt like there was for smartphones. Wireless chargers are a potential solution, but they can be slow and finicky, requiring the device to be placed correctly to work properly. Advancements like the Qi2 standard are a big step forward, but it would still require smartwatch manufacturers to integrate wireless charging into their devices, something not all are willing to do for design and utility reasons.
Experts believe that imposing a universal charger through legislation, as has been the case for smartphones, would be unwise at this stage. As Jitesh Ubrani, research director of International Data Corporation (IDC), told Android Central: “Regulating one charging standard today would stifle innovation which would likely harm consumers and governments even more than having multiple chargers.” Companies would have to design their wearable devices around a charger, which would likely impact form factor and functionality. But while there isn’t a clear solution to the smartwatch charger problem, establishing a fast, reliable, and accessible standard, much like USB-C, would solve many problems while improving the overall customer experience.
