One of USB-Cs greatest benefits is its ubiquity.
You still need a charger, but you dont need a special, separate charger.
Maybe all batteries should work like this.
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By cutting out on the amount of e-waste created, well be helping the environment."
Ups and Downs
The upside of a rechargeable battery that doesnt need its own charger is clear.
NiteCore
But the downsides are more numerous.
NiteCore
One, which NiteCore avoids, is reduced capacity.
With extra circuitry for the charger, theres less space for the battery, meaning shorter battery life.
Another downside is charging time, which may be related to a third downsideheat.
Rapeepong Puttakumwong / Getty Images
“So, you don’t lose power, but you lose charging time.
Built-in USB-C charging takes 60% more to charge.
And finally, theres the question of reliability.
On the other hand, good third-party chargers are available for much less.
I likethe Patona brandfor my Fujifilm battery charger, for instance.
But there are other ways to USB-C charge a battery.
And yes, the X-Pro3 does this via a USB-C cable.
For enthusiastic amateurs, then, maybe USB-C is a boon.
But for professionals, the old ways work just fine and can be relied upon to just work.
“With a built-in USB-C charger, upgrade options are limited.
You simply can’t buy and use a new fast(er) charger.
So, I can’t see a solid reason to scrap my existing batteries without a built-in charger.”
