How do the UK and US flight bans on electronics differ?

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Divergent Electronic Device Bans Implemented by the UK and US on Flights

The United Kingdom and the United States have both instituted bans on certain electronic devices in the passenger cabins of flights originating from several Middle Eastern and North African countries, though the specifics of these restrictions vary between the two nations. The US ban encompasses all electronic devices larger than a standard mobile phone, including gaming consoles, and affects nine non-US airlines operating from ten specific airports in eight countries. In contrast, the UK's ban has a defined size limit for prohibited items, specifying devices larger than 16 by 9.3 centimetres and 1.5 cm thick, and impacts six British airlines along with eight foreign carriers, covering all airports in six nations.
Specific Airport and Country Scope

The United States has targeted flights departing from ten airports located in eight countries: Queen Alia International in Amman, Jordan; Cairo International in Egypt; Ataturk in Istanbul, Turkey; King Abdulaziz International in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; King Khalid International in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Kuwait International; Mohammed V International in Casablanca, Morocco; Hamad International in Doha, Qatar; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The British restrictions, however, apply to all airports within six countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey.
Device Size Limitations

A key distinction lies in the definition of prohibited devices. The UK has precisely defined the maximum dimensions for electronic items allowed in the cabin, stating that devices exceeding 16 centimetres in length, 9.3 cm in width, and 1.5 cm in thickness are banned. This specification means that devices larger than a typical mobile phone or smartphone are subject to the restriction. The US, while also prohibiting electronics larger than an average mobile phone, has not provided such precise measurements, but its directive explicitly includes gaming consoles.
Airline and Implementation Timelines

The US ban primarily affects nine non-US airlines, as US carriers do not operate direct flights from the affected airports. These airlines were given a 96-hour window to inform passengers, with the ban commencing at 3:00 am GMT on a Tuesday. Conversely, the British ban took immediate effect from Tuesday and impacts six British airlines, including charter services, as well as eight foreign carriers. Neither country has publicly stated an end date for these measures.
Underlying Security Concerns

While officials in both countries have been reticent about the specific intelligence prompting these bans, the US Department of Homeland Security cited a general concern over extremists developing "innovative methods" to attack aircraft. This was underscored by references to an incident in Somalia in February of the previous year, where a bomb was reportedly placed on a plane. American authorities also pointed to the 2015 downing of a Russian airliner over Egypt and prior attacks at airports in Brussels and Istanbul as contributing factors. A UK government source indicated that Britain possessed "the same intelligence" as the US, and a US official suggested to CNN that the ban was linked to a threat from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

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How do the UK and US flight bans on electronics differ?

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