Garmin tries high speed USB C
While we’ve seen USB-C used by Garmin on a handful of other devices this year (inReach Mini 2, inReach Messenger, Garmin Edge 1040, Edge Explore 2), all of those had USB-C on the part that plugs into the Garmin device. Whereas this time, Garmin has put USB-C on the part that plugs into the wall/outlet/etc… Atop that, it’s a new charging port design for the watch side, while concurrently offering way faster charging, taking just under an hour to fully charge the watch (compared to 2hr 30 mins for the existing Fenix 7/Epix series). It doesn’t sound like this charging port design is headed to other units though.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/10/...ts-review.html Last sentence is the most immediately important, but the fact that Garmin is trying new options at all of a hint of what's to come. |
Yep, probably a good sign. However the cynic in me says that Garmin won't go whole hog on this until cell phones and other devices finally leave USB-C for something else and all those USB-C connectors already manufactured to install on PCB's go on sale!
Since I've gone on record now, Garmin will probably prove me wrong.... I hope. |
the new Wahoo is USB-C.... Never would I have thought they'd surpass garmin in that part of tech. LOL
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Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22678118)
the new Wahoo is USB-C.... Never would I have thought they'd surpass garmin in that part of tech. LOL
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Originally Posted by Atlas Shrugged
(Post 22678205)
The new Garmin products use USB-C. The OP was referencing the charger port for the watches which it looks like Garmin is changing in the new MARQ modes. The charging ports for the watches are proprietary just as the Wahoo Rival is.
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Proprietary ports aren't something we want on our bike computers.
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A new USB-C based charging cable: While we’ve seen USB-C used by Garmin on a handful of other devices this year (inReach Mini 2, inReach Messenger, Garmin Edge 1040, Edge Explore 2), all of those had USB-C on the part that plugs into the Garmin device. Whereas this time, Garmin has put USB-C on the part that plugs into the wall/outlet/etc… Atop that, it’s a new charging port design for the watch side, while concurrently offering way faster charging, taking just under an hour to fully charge the watch (compared to 2hr 30 mins for the existing Fenix 7/Epix series). It doesn’t sound like this charging port design is headed to other units though. Last sentence is the most immediately important, but the fact that Garmin is trying new options at all of a hint of what's to come. |
Originally Posted by znomit
(Post 22678377)
Proprietary ports aren't something we want on our bike computers.
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Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22678118)
the new Wahoo is USB-C.... Never would I have thought they'd surpass garmin in that part of tech. LOL
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Originally Posted by Iride01
(Post 22677993)
Yep, probably a good sign. However the cynic in me says that Garmin won't go whole hog on this until cell phones and other devices finally leave USB-C for something else and all those USB-C connectors already manufactured to install on PCB's go on sale!
Since I've gone on record now, Garmin will probably prove me wrong.... I hope. The 1040 (out for months) uses USB-C. The connector for the new watch uses USB-C (on the power side). |
Originally Posted by znomit
(Post 22678377)
Proprietary ports aren't something we want on our bike computers.
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Originally Posted by njkayaker
(Post 22678641)
It seems Garmin has already proved you are wrong.
The 1040 (out for months) uses USB-C. The connector for the new watch uses USB-C (on the power side). I'll be happy to let the cynical side of me be wrong. Though I do have quite a few cables from old to new USB standards, so for me it's not going to change much to make it easier for me. I can see where others that need to bum a cable from someone while away from home might have issues. |
Originally Posted by Iride01
(Post 22678753)
Like I said, that was the cynical side of me. The optimistic side was wondering if the weight of users recently screaming for USB-C on everything and some governments getting involved might cause them to change their practice of introducing new models with slightly dated USB connections.
I'll be happy to let the cynical side of me be wrong. Though I do have quite a few cables from old to new USB standards, so for me it's not going to change much to make it easier for me. I can see where others that need to bum a cable from someone while away from home might have issues. |
Originally Posted by Iride01
(Post 22678753)
Like I said, that was the cynical side of me. The optimistic side was wondering if the weight of users recently screaming for USB-C on everything and some governments getting involved might cause them to change their practice of introducing new models with slightly dated USB connections.
I'll be happy to let the cynical side of me be wrong. Though I do have quite a few cables from old to new USB standards, so for me it's not going to change much to make it easier for me. I can see where others that need to bum a cable from someone while away from home might have issues. The European USB-C requirement is for 2024. Garmin released the 1040 with USB-C months ago. Garmin released the Varia RCT715 with USB-C months ago. These were (almost certainly) designed before the announcement of the European requirement. (The Inreach Mini was released 2/2022 and that uses mini USB.) That is, there seems to be fairly concrete evidence that Garmin has already started moving to using USB-C in (new) devices. |
USB-C is great. There is no down-side.
But, seriously folks, I have to say given that there should be a 50/50 chance of getting a non-USB-C cable in correctly on the first try, my success rate seems to be about 1/3. Good riddance to non-USB-C cables and proprietary connectors. I just got an otherwise great headlight (Cyglolite), but it has a USB-mini port. Those open up a whole new realm of horror. |
I’ve got a cygolite hotshot that charges via mini. When travelling I tend to carry those triple headed cables that have mini/C/lightning connectors so you can charge any device you can think of. Except that one.
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I've wondered why more wearable & small tech [bicycle computers, lights, action cams] don't incorporate induction charging while keeping the port for a tethered cable?
with a decent charger, it wouldn't take that much longer than using a cable. |
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22678963)
I've wondered why more wearable & small tech [bicycle computers, lights, action cams] don't incorporate induction charging while keeping the port for a tethered cable?
with a decent charger, it wouldn't take that much longer than using a cable. Wireless charging makes regular "topping up" more convenient. The devices you listed aren't generally used in a way that "topping up" useful.. |
I don't think I want usb c on my watch. It would be nice if Garmin figured out why the inexpensive 3rd party charge cables work so much better than theirs though. It wasn't very surprising when I expected my watch to be charged and it wasn't because the connection is so unreliable. Now that I'm using a $5 cable it's always fine.
It bothered me a little that my 830 didn't come with usb c. Micro usb works fine once you get it plugged in, but I'm sure people have broken the pc board connector. I thought about getting their integrated power bank, but it's just too expensive for me. On edit: I just looked and it's even more than I remembered, $180 list for 3000 mah. That's almost comically expensive. |
Originally Posted by njkayaker
(Post 22678984)
If you need the wire, you can save money/space not having the induction pad.
Wireless charging makes regular "topping up" more convenient. The devices you listed aren't generally used in a way that "topping up" useful.. |
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22679280)
I use inductive charging for a few tech devices & never experience a drawback that would make me wish I was jamming a plug in the port.
That doesn’t make the devices cheaper to make. |
Originally Posted by njkayaker
(Post 22679831)
So what?
That doesn’t make the devices cheaper to make. A consumer might overlook some additional cost to obtain such useful feature. |
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22680678)
Your point.
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22680678)
A consumer might overlook some additional cost to obtain such useful feature.
It’s not that useful. Not compared to making the battery smaller. It would also have to be more than “a customer”. Many people already see these as too expensive (the feature wouldn’t be added to cheaper products). If there was such a big marketing benefit for this, it seems likely at least one company would done it. With scores of companies and hundreds of products, we see zero with this feature. Note that I’m not saying it would have no utility. What I’m saying is that the pros clearly don’t outweigh the cons since none of these products have thus feature. |
Originally Posted by njkayaker
(Post 22681025)
You asked why they didn’t. I provided a reason. You talked about something irrelevant.
Or they might not. It’s not that useful. Not compared to making the battery smaller. It would also have to be more than “a customer”. Many people already see these as too expensive (the feature wouldn’t be added to cheaper products). If there was such a big marketing benefit for this, it seems likely at least one company would done it. With scores of companies and hundreds of products, we see zero with this feature. Note that I’m not saying it would have no utility. What I’m saying is that the pros clearly don’t outweigh the cons since none of these products have thus feature. Sometimes the maker of a product lacks input from the consumers, & consumers might lack providing the input from being shunned or discouraged from giving feedback. |
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22681286)
Are you in the computer tech business...
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22681286)
...or are you speculating & thinking for others?
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22681286)
Sometimes the maker of a product lacks input from the consumers, & ....
Originally Posted by Troul
(Post 22681286)
...consumers might lack providing the input from being shunned or discouraged from giving feedback.
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