A useful source:
https://worldofsockets.com/
this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2025
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I would argue that neither of the plugs shown in the picture nor those mentioned by others are the best.
Ignoring current adoption, I think that IEC 60906-1 is the best plug. It is very similar to the Swiss plug and was intended to, at least in the EU, replace other plugs. It has quite a few advantages over the other plugs. It is rated at 16 A, has a compact form factor, is polarised, and has almost all the common protections except fuses (which are pretty much useless anyway). Currently it only is used in South Africa without major changes to the plug.
Compared to the Schuko (Type F):
Compared to (Typ G)):
Regarding three-phase power, I would argue that Swiss type 15 (10A) and type 25 (16A) plugs are the best. These are really cool because while beeing the same size as Schuko (Typ F) plugs, they can transfer three-phase power (so 11 kW; 230 V / 16A on all three phases). They also fit standard Swiss single-phase and Euro plugs. This makes plugging in large appliances like electric stoves much easier than in other countries.
I would find it quite cool if most countries switched to one common plug, and I think IEC 60906-1 would be best for that. It would also be possible to build hybrid sockets for many common plugs during the transition phase.
Look at the lengths the EU is going through trying to make it seem as it didn't reluctantly recognise the superiority of the Swiss plug and adopting it
I will have to agree that the swiss plugs already are very good. From what I see the only improvement of IEC 60906-1 would be that the plug generally is rated for 16A. Besides that there really isn't any improvement. The 16A rating is pretty cool for devices like 3KW electric kettles.
Because of how similar the plugs are, switzerland could migrate to IEC 60906-1 pretty easy. Since the polarity of the socket is reversed and the ground pin has a slightly different offset, you could have a dual-socket that has both the neutral and live conductor rated for 16A, and a earth conductor for old swiss plugs at the bottom and the earth plug for new plugs at the top. Because of the slightly different offset of the earth conductor but identical spacing of the neutral and live conductors, both swiss plugs and new IEC-60906-1 plugs would only fit in their correct orientation.