USB Type-C in Virgin Lounge

[jetset]

Just noticed that the Virgin lounge in Sydney now has USB Type-C ports.

This means that you can now charge certain modern laptops (e.g. Macbook/Pro) and smartphones (e.g. Pixel) without an A/C adapter.

Exciting times!

 

[samh004]

While that is very cool indeed for a subset of users, it seems premature, and my question would be what the wattage is, as I know a MacBook charger for instance may maintain battery life on a MacBook Pro that is being used, but not charge it at the same time. I suspect these are aimed at phoned, that require far less power.

I recall last year in HEL they had Qi chargers everywhere in the AY lounge, and I would think this is a better path to be heading down right now.

 

[jetset]

My Macbook Pro is charging right now as I am using it.

The outlet is rated at a hefty 5 amps. I am not sure if it is charging at 9v, 15v or 20.3v. Either way, five amps is plenty of power and would charge your laptop even when gaming. Likewise it would rapid charge a Type-C smartphone.

I don't believe this to be premature at all. In fact, I'd say I'm honestly surprised at how long it has taken for there to be a universal A/C adapter standard (USB-PD).

 

[Pleb Status]

While that is very cool indeed for a subset of users, it seems premature, and my question would be what the wattage is, as I know a MacBook charger for instance may maintain battery life on a MacBook Pro that is being used, but not charge it at the same time. I suspect these are aimed at phoned, that require far less power.

I recall last year in HEL they had Qi chargers everywhere in the AY lounge, and I would think this is a better path to be heading down right now.

In a year or two, the 'subset' of users that will be able to take advantage of USB Type C charging will be the owners of all new phones, tablets and ultrabooks not manufactured by a certain 'fruit' company. My current phone, tablet and ultrabook are all USB Type C charging capable so the time has already come to make the change...

Wireless charging standards (particularly fast charging standards) are still evolving and the widespread wireless charging of tablets and notebooks may still be many years away.

 

[Pleb Status]

My Macbook Pro is charging right now as I am using it.

The outlet is rated at a hefty 5 amps. I am not sure if it is charging at 9v, 15v or 20.3v. Either way, five amps is plenty of power and would charge your laptop even when gaming. Likewise it would rapid charge a Type-C smartphone.

I don't believe this to be premature at all. In fact, I'd say I'm honestly surprised at how long it has taken for there to be a universal A/C adapter standard (USB-PD).

That would mean the new system should deliver at least 45W or more (9V at 5A). My ultrabook has a 45W USB Type C power supply so it should charge at full speed.

Well done VA. Hope they roll out USB Type C charging to their other lounges in the near future...

 

[samh004]

I don't believe this to be premature at all. In fact, I'd say I'm honestly surprised at how long it has taken for there to be a universal A/C adapter standard (USB-PD).

It's got a lot of adoption, yes, but not complete market penetration. Still plenty of devices that charge with Micro-USB or don't include Type-C ports. And the cynic in me says that as soon as we hit market penetration, there'll be another standard/port created that's even better and it'll just fragment the market again.

Not long ago there was derision at Apple for not adopting Micro-USB over their new lightning standard... and in not much time ago that standard has changed to Type-C. Where next?

In a year or two, the 'subset' of users that will be able to take advantage of USB Type C charging will be the owners of all new phones, tablets and ultrabooks not manufactured by a certain 'fruit' company.

I'm sure it will increase, not going to dispute that, but by the time we get to the majority there will be a new standard, a new interface, fragmentation will happen again and we start all over.

I'm travelling right now with my Apple products and using just Type-C cables. I do have a Qi pad as well though, and haven't plugged in my iPhone for 2 weeks! Sure, it's not fast, and I wouldn't dream of a day that Qi could charge a laptop any time soon, but it's pretty bloody easy to just put your phone down.

 

[Pleb Status]

I'm travelling right now with my Apple products and using just Type-C cables. I do have a Qi pad as well though, and haven't plugged in my iPhone for 2 weeks! Sure, it's not fast, and I wouldn't dream of a day that Qi could charge a laptop any time soon, but it's pretty bloody easy to just put your phone down.

Those of us not aligned to the 'fruit' company have been using wireless charging for several years now (since 2014 for me) and also have 15W (and soon to be 25W) 'fast' wireless charging.

Even my car has built in wireless charging capabilities...

 

[samh004]

Those of us not aligned to the 'fruit' company have been using wireless charging for several years now (since 2014 for me) and also have 15W (and soon to be 25W) 'fast' wireless charging...

There's no need to be so dismissive of every post I make because you don't use an Apple

That said, my point remains, if Qi has been out since 2014 – slightly longer than Type-C – building a pad into tables and bars should be the easier and a more logical step before yet another cable port. All they need to do is cut a hole into a surface and as the standard changes, pop out the old pad and put in a newer, better one.

 

[Pleb Status]

That said, my point remains, if Qi has been out since 2014 – slightly longer than Type-C – building a pad into tables and bars should be the easier and a more logical step before yet another cable port. All they need to do is cut a hole into a surface and as the standard changes, pop out the old pad and put in a newer, better one.

Unfortunately everything would need to change as the charging wattage increases over time (for example, the power supply that supplies the charging pad) and all USB Type C devices can use a cabled connection regardless of their wireless charging abilities.

There's no need to be so dismissive of every post I make because you don't use an Apple

Sometimes those of the 'fruity' side of things appear to forget that most of their new 'innovations' have actually been around for a number of years ....

 

[TomVexille]

Those of us not aligned to the 'fruit' company have been using wireless charging for several years now (since 2014 for me) and also have 15W (and soon to be 25W) 'fast' wireless charging.

Even my car has built in wireless charging capabilities...

Darned right. Wireless charging for phones has been around since at least 2010, which is when I first had it.

 

[hossein_au]

Sometimes those of the 'fruity' side of things appear to forget that most of their new 'innovations' have actually been around for a number of years ....

Very much unlike those of 'non-fruity' variety who were so full of themselves as their (then) new phones used to go up in flames??!!

This is more of a tongue-on-cheek comment; let's not be fanboys, whether of the fruity variety or otherwise.

 

[moa999]

A lot of the early Qi devices are only 5W charging (and often use 10W power)

 

[futaris]

Good news. I usually travel with a 87W Apple Type-C Charger and a Xiaomi ZMI QB820 Type-C powerbank.

Means I can charge my Dell Precision 5520 (Essentialy an XPS 15) and Galaxy Note 8 easily enough. I've also got a USB Type-C to Micro USB 2.0 Type-B cable, for the older devices that still use Type-B.

iPhone X, 8 etc quick charge off them fine, too (with a Lightning to USB Type-C cable).

 

[moa999]

Nice looking device that ZMI charger

 

[CPMaverick]

Do they have USB-C ports or cables?

If they only have ports, you still need to pull out your cable, so not much use... in fact since most people use USB-A cables, this is probably only helpful for Mac users.

 

[jetset]

Wow plenty of Apple bashing going on. I'm not sure everyone understands what USB Type-C is so I will expand below.

First of all, it's not an Apple technology. USB Type-C replaces the Type-A port that hails from 1996. Type-C is a slimmer port that carries more data lines, more current, higher voltages and is reversible. It is electrically compatible with Type-A and can be adapted with a $1 dongle. USB-PD is the universal charging standard that is implemented over USB Type-C. It supplies multiple voltages and outputs up to 100w.

Most new Laptops that use Type-C are not Macs. For instance, the Dell XPS 12/13/15, HP Spectre x360, Razer Blade, Lenovo Thinkpad T480, Asus Zenbook etc etc. Apple was just one of the early adopters of this technology back in 2015.
Most current Android phones use it too.

Type-C doesn't really compete with inductive (wireless) charging. Most inductive chargers run at 5-10w (slow) and are only compatible with smartphones. Also you can't really use your smartphone while its charging because it has to sit still over the pad. I expect these two technologies to coexist peacefully.

Virgin lounges don't supply the cable, only the port. You will still need your own cable (as you currently do with Type-A). You can use your existing cables if you bring an adapter.
Virgin hasn't removed all the Type-A ports. Instead in some areas they've replaced just one Type-A port with a Type-C port. You will still find another Type-A port directly above it.

 

[CPMaverick]

I wasn't Apple bashing. I have a Sony phone with USB-C. I was just asking if it is a port or a cable. If it is just a port, it isn't really an improvement for phone users, as they need a cable regardless (and most will carry an A-to-C).

I didn't know other laptops used this besides the MacBook, but the point is still the same.

 

[jetset]

I wasn't Apple bashing. I have a Sony phone with USB-C. I was just asking if it is a port or a cable. If it is just a port, it isn't really an improvement for phone users, as they need a cable regardless (and most will carry an A-to-C).

I didn't know other laptops used this besides the MacBook, but the point is still the same.

Sorry, that was directed at the general theme above.

The biggest benefit to phone users is that their phone should always fast-charge, thanks to standardized USB-PD signalling. Currently charging speeds are a lottery as most manufacturers have implemented a myriad of non-standard signalling methods over Type A. Technically the standard USB 2.0 port only supplies 2.5w. This becomes critical when you're in a rush to charge your phone before your flight. If your phone isn't compatible with the socket it might only trickle charge and you'll only gain a few percent of battery. USB Type-C/USB-PD ensures that both devices speak the same language and can negotiate the fastest charging speeds possible (e.g. 15-18w on current Androids and iPhones).

 

[CPMaverick]

Fair enough.

I need to carry my AC charger anyway, and I need a A-C cable for my charger. So I don't see the benefit really, if I want a fast charge I'll use my charger, if I don't care I'll use my A-C cable. Not worth buying and carrying a C-C cable for me, just to 'save me the trouble' of plugging in my AC charger. But the sooner they move to the C cables all around, the better.

 

[Daver6]

Great to see this...but there is of course a security risk plugging your device directly into a USB port that you know nothing about. Much safer using your own power brick.