Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz talk about the state of USB-C, play USB-C Price is Right, interview the CEO of Nomad Goods, and discuss the frustration and confusion surrounding USB-C devices. They also discuss USB-C prices, play games to test their knowledge of USB-C, and talk about the evolution and challenges of USB-C as a standard connector.
The growing popularity and universality of USB-C is reflected in Nomad Goods' significant shift in sales from Lightning to USB-C products before the release of the iPhone 15.
Communicating the features and functionalities of USB-C can be challenging for consumers due to its multifaceted nature, but its extensibility and future-proofing capabilities offer vast opportunities for accessory makers like Nomad Goods.
USB-C's universality allows Nomad Goods to build accessories that are compatible with both iPhones and a wide range of Android devices, opening up new markets and enabling diversified product offerings.
Nomad Goods envisions creating portable and high-quality cables that can supply power to household appliances and devices as USB-C becomes more prevalent, but challenges such as product quality and differentiating between standards persist.
Deep dives
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USB-C Becoming the Standard
Nomad Goods experienced a significant shift in sales from Lightning to USB-C products before the release of the iPhone 15, indicating the growing popularity and universality of USB-C.
Challenges of USB-C
Communicating the features and functionalities of USB-C can be challenging due to its multifaceted nature. Terms like power delivery and data transmission can be difficult for consumers to understand. However, the standard's extensibility and future-proofing capabilities offer vast opportunities for accessory makers like Nomad Goods.
The Promise of Universal Connectivity
With the rise of USB-C, Nomad Goods can now build accessories that are compatible with both iPhones and a wide range of Android devices. The universality of USB-C opens up new markets and allows for more diversified product offerings.
Future Possibilities and Challenges
As USB-C becomes more prominent, Nomad Goods envisions creating portable and high-quality cables that can supply power to household appliances and devices. However, challenges persist, such as ensuring product quality and differentiating between standards and marketing buzzwords.
The Verge’s Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz start the final show of 2023 with some chat about the state of USB-C: the ups and downs of charging gadgets, the ubiquity of one cable, and what the future looks like for gadgets with ports.
The crew competes in a few rounds of USB-C Price is Right, a game we completely made up to show how confusing USB-C and its specs can be. Nilay, David, and Alex each play for a Vergecast listener to win an awesome Verge swag basket from our merch store. Check out the video version of the game below.
David and Nilay end the holiday show with Noah Dentzel, the CEO and co-founder of Nomad Goods, to talk about how USB-C on the iPhone has changed his business, the challenges of building cables, and what tech accessories he’s most excited about in 2024.
Have a happy, safe, and fast-charging holiday. We’ll see you in 2024!