this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2025
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236
Fairphone’s new cables and chargers are LONGTIME®-certified. Here’s what that means. (www.fairphone.com)
submitted 3 months ago by Sunshine@piefed.ca to c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk
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[–] Geth@lemmy.dbzer0.com 54 points 3 months ago (7 children)

Who are all these people that have outlets next to where they usually use a phone and can use a 1m cable? All my cables are 2m because power sockets tend to be near the ground and phones and other items you charge tend to live on tables, desks and shelves. I don't understand why the USB spec considers 1m to be enough for anything.

[–] floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 39 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The length limit is because the data rates are so high in USB 3.2 that timing is very tight and signal integrity degrades very quickly with natural cable capacitance. Charging via USB-PD does not have the same limitations, but it's suffering from the one-cable-does-it-all nature of USB-C

[–] PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago

Tbf the 2.5m version is only 5€ more

[–] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 12 points 3 months ago

I have seen the light, give me 3m or give me death

[–] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 10 points 3 months ago

It made some sense when the primary function was to sync the phone (iPod, camera, etc.) with a computer. Then I honestly think that companies just never wanted to take the on cost of the cable being longer and heavier especially when they could sell you a second one for more profit and claim some green wins in the weight and material reduction.

[–] Greddan@feddit.org 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

There are these nifty little devices that let you extend and even multiply your wall outlets away from the wall. I have one attached to my nightstand and one on my desk. Both also have USB outlets so no need for adapers.

A pro tip is to run one of these genious things behind your media furniture so you no longer need to plug every single device into their own wall socket.

[–] potustheplant@feddit.nl 0 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Both also have USB outlets so no need for adapers.

Technically, usb chargers are converters, not adapters. Also, I'd never trust the usb ports on a power strip. But hey, you do you.

[–] Greddan@feddit.org 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Ackchyually they're both. They convert AC to DC, and adapt Schuko (in my case) to USB. They're most commonly called adapters though. People will look at you funny if you call them converters.

IKEA electronics are pretty safe to use. They're quick to recall any failing product and don't want a loss leader like power strips or power-adapters to be a drain on their reputation. Just by the shear amount they sell, issues will become apparent quickly.

[–] potustheplant@feddit.nl 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

What? Schuko is an AC power plug. So no, it doesn't adapt that to usb. It converts ac to dc and the plug is directly usb.

Even if you think they're "safe to use", I doubt they have the same longevity, capabilities and protections that a proper GaN charger has.

[–] skarn@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They definitely don't have the sane capabilities, but I think I've be using the USB-Bs in my Ikea power strips for >8years now so at least longevity is pretty decent.

[–] potustheplant@feddit.nl 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

That's from a sample size what? 4 power strips? Super reliable data xd

[–] AlsaValderaan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

[–] Geth@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 months ago

I feel like having to hug a power socket constantly is a worse solution to just having all my USB cables be 2m long especially if you want a clean desk.

For example this setup is not possible with just 1m if you actually want to also use the phone

[–] Soup@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I like a 2m cable for sure but a 3’ cable should reach most any table, desk, or nightstand. I only have one 6-10’ cable and it’s because it’s routed through my desk. A 3’ standard has been working fine for most people for a long time and saves on materials.

[–] domdanial@reddthat.com 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Average desk height is like, 30in. If the outlet is 6in off the ground, that gives you 1 foot of leeway to the nearest outlet. Hopefully it's next to the desk.

Average elbow height for men seems to be about 1m, give or take. Have to stand next to the outlet to use it plugged in.

I'm only buying 2m+ cables for wall charging, data transfer cables can be shorter and so can cables for battery banks.

[–] Soup@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Buy whatever you want, but as a standard 3’ is fine. My desk is cable managed properly and the powerbar is mounted under my desk. You can use zipties or 3M tape, and if you’re worried about aesthetics 1) if you do it correctly then it’ll be nice and 2) you’d already be the kind of person to use individual wall outlets for everything so yea I doubt it worries you that bad.

[–] Greddan@feddit.org 2 points 3 months ago

There are these nifty little devices that let you extend and even multiply your wall outlets away from the wall. I have one attached to my nightstand and one on my desk. Both also have USB outlets so no need for adapers.

A pro tip is to run one of these genious things behind your media furniture so you no longer need to plug every single device into their own wall socket.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago

A cable is only there to power the Qi charger anyway.

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 34 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

If I make a "love you LONGTIME®" joke will it get deleted?

[–] etherphon@midwest.social 8 points 3 months ago

I was going to say that's my goddamn trademark see you in court. /s

[–] Aralakh@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 months ago

Glad to see someone with the same sense of humour lol.

[–] Honytawk@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 months ago

No, those are specifically designed to keep working.

[–] ptc075@lemmy.zip 27 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm a bit surprised I've never heard of LONGTIME. Seems like they're doing exactly what I've wanted - searching out products designed to last.

https://longtimelabel.com/en/

That said, not sure I need a Buy It For Life cable. Far more interested in BIFL appliances.

[–] rainbowbunny@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago

I've heard a lot of people use Anker cables for BIFL? Or perhaps just they are the longest lasting I've heard of

[–] Zwiebel@feddit.org 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

https://shop.fairphone.com/shop/long-life-32-cable-1m-1883

Nice they got proper specs

[–] Patches@ttrpg.network 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Long life but no long cable 😢

[–] Zwiebel@feddit.org 3 points 3 months ago

2.5m for the slow-data version

[–] Ross_audio@lemmy.world -4 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Since they got rid of the headphone jack and started selling disposable Bluetooth earphones I don't pay any attention to fairphone.

It's not just the headphone jack quality has plummeted since the 3, yes you can get security updates but the warranty returns mean you're probably putting more into landfill than buying a Motorola every 2 years.

[–] phonics@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

i have the fairbuds because i was tired of my batteries running dying. but man, these headphoned sound like shit and cant even sync to video. i bought them in 2025. also the replaceable battery looks off the shelf but is proprietary. so if they decide to stop selling them my headphones die anyway.

[–] the_swagmaster@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 months ago

The headphones they sell are actively the least disposable ones you can buy. That being said, it's not the most sustainable way to listen to music. Imo, they removed it too make engineering the phone easier. If that means they can reduce the price from what it would have been and make the phone more repairable, then I'm happy for that compromise.

Have you owned a fairphone? From experience with my gf's fp4, she has not had to keep sending it back in due to hardware issues. If it was such a big issue as you seem to think, they would have gone out of business with all the replacements they would need to do...