TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a research note that Apple’s iPhone 12 models will not include EarPods or charger in the box.
Kuo said that Apple will instead release a new 20W power adapter as an optional accessory for iPhones and end production of its existing 5W and 18W power adapters later this year. The form factor of the new 20W power adapter is said to be similar to the 18W version, with USB-C Power Delivery for fast charging
Kuo says that Apple wants to keep selling the iPhone 12 at a similar price to the iPhone 11 and removing in-box accessories will offset the cost of the 5G networking components. This will presumably reduce the size of the iPhone packaging considerably, helping lower Apple’s freight costs and be better for the environment.
It’s not clear if the Lightning cable is still included. For comparison to Apple’s other products, the Series 3 Apple Watch includes the magnetic charging cable but does not come with the wall plug / power adapter.
For Apple’s upcoming iPad line, consisting of a new 10.8-inch iPad later this year and 8.5-inch iPad mini in first half of 2021, Kuo thinks Apple will continue to bundle the power adapter.
MacDailyNews Take: While we’ll hear complaints, many people have multiple chargers lying around from previous generation iPhones and iPads. Many people have already purchased wireless Qi chargers for their iPhones. Ditto for AirPods. For those who don’t have a charger on hand, they’ll have to buy one. If they forget or don’t realize that, when the get home with their new iPhone or it arrives by delivery, those are who’ll complain the loudest. At least Apple ships iPhones fully charged out of the box, so the charger-less will have at least a day to get a charger (garbage versions of which can be found basically everywhere, COVID-19 issues to picking one up in person notwithstanding). Most users will want a genuine Apple or high-quality (Anker) wired or wireless charger.
I will be fine with that as long as they provide a USB-C charging cable. Got plenty of headphones still in their cases. Same goes for USB 2 chargers.
Apple should offer the chargers / headphones for free pick at their store if people are really desperate.
New GaN chargers are great. About half the size of the standard Mac charger and fast.
I wish that Apple would standardize to the USB-C fitting in the next iPhone and other remaining devices. Have just one cable USB-C/USB-C would be very cool and make cable management a lot easier.
I am fine with leaving out the headphones. I have never used the wired headphones supplied, and Airpods are an alternate choice. Cheap substitutes are unlikely to damage your iPhone.
However, given the fact that chargers and cables fail over time, and are convenient to leave in extra locations, and that cheap substitutes are known to cause fires, I believe providing a charger in the package should be maintained.
If true, this is over the top. A near $1,000 product without a charger? Makes Apple look like a bunch of cheap money grabbers. Not the appearance you want to give.
Including chargers, cables, and earpods with any brand of phone today is wasteful. Almost everyone already has all of these things and often multiple. I have three chargers now, lots of earpods I never use, and more cables than I know what to do with. I don’t need more every time I get a new iPhone.
LOL! Are you new to the world of Apple?
Exactly it’s actual BS people spend $13-$1500 on a phone and they don’t simply get the device to charge it? Imagine buying any other product in a not coming with a plug and power cord. Asinine!
What’s obvious and is left unsaid is that old chargers and cables break, fray, get lost and just get dirty and crappy. Even if you use wireless charging, Airdrop still sucks a lot and you need to use the cable from time to time to transfer photos, music, etc. Do you really want to use a 3-4 year old, yellowed, janky, unreliable lightning cable with your $1000+ iPhone 12 for that? Hell no!
I’ve had at least 2-3 of those Apple charger plugs fail on me in the past so out of the 4 iPhones, two iPads and an Apple Watch that I’ve bought in my iOS product purchasing “career”, I have three plugs in use (one has a wireless charger plugged into it) and one in reserve for when another inevitably breaks. When it comes to key accessories like plugs and cable I much prefer to use Apple products over even ostensibly reliable 3rd party gear like Anker. Leaving out headphones I can understand, but taking away a charger to “offset the cost of 5G networking components” is some bold BS. Given the volumes Apple has been working with and ever-more streamlined operations and vertical integration, Apple should be “offsetting” price increases by their own ingenuity like they have for over a decade. And if customers are offsetting the 5G cost by being deprived of chargers, who’s reaping the benefit from reduced shipping weights Tim?
There were rumors that Apple would offer a discount on AirPods to iPhone buyers, though given the fact that customer-friendly rumors rarely turn out to be true when it comes to Apple, I won’t hold my breath.
On next year’s iPhone 13 packaging: “Battery not included”
Can’t believe MDN is attempting to rationalize that bullshit.
The new plan offsets the costs of 5G for the company’s gain, while letting the consumer pick up the charge for necessary items. This is all while the profit margins for Apple have led the industry for decades at north of 35%.
Yes, many speak of having extra chargers, cords and headphones. Don’t many include those things when selling/trading an old iPh? I do…including never-used buds b/c they’ve always fit poorly, so I don’t have drawers of these as extras.
Apple has the best ecosystem in the world and these stick-it-to-your-community plans will eventually (are in process) bring contrary results.
Anyone rationalizing this BS is a mindless lemming. It is absurd to buy a $1000 phone and not have a charger included. It’s like spending $50000 on a new car and having no tires.
“It’s like spending $50000 on a new car and having no tires.”
Timmy “Nickels & Dimes” Cook might have just been given a great idea for the Apple Car thanks to you.
Last time I bought a car, there was separate line item for the wheels. Different price depending on rim design/size/tire model. Just like different chargers have different prices depending on power/type (usb-A/C or Qi) etc. You know what that’s called? Freedom of choice. I like my freedoms. What I don’t like is being forced to pay for and use stuff I don’t need or want.
I’ve been waiting for this change for years. The phone is the only thing I need from the box—even the sim tool is extra for me, as I use eSIM (and have multiple sim tools around the house). I’ve never used EarPods (my newest headphones are Master & Dynamic MW65. 500$, and came—thank god—without a changer in the box), and I don’t like chargers nor cables. Much prefer Anker/other GAN chargers and cables (with multiple length options and better quality overall). I hate Apple and UPS dumping electronic waste to my house, especially as the existence of said waste makes it harder for me to justify buying the stuff I really want to use.
I’d also like to see Apple selling watch case without a band. Watch studio is a good step, but not far enough. Just the case, please. Unbundle and let the customer decide.
Even if the cheapest tires were a separate line item on that car…
It. Still. Came. With. Tires. By. Default.
I think it would be closer to buying a new car and not receiving cup holders and rubberized undercoating.
That’s Apple fans for you, lemmings.
This article is complete non-sense, the actual cost attached for supplying a proper charger and corded EarPods is next to absolute nothing for Apple, the backlash and social media shaming would be enormous and not worth the risk / reward. Ming is merely looking for engagement with this rubbish opinion and damn well knows it.
It costs a lot more than 2c. Multiplied by the hundreds of millions of iPhones Apple sells, it all adds up dramatically.
So does $1000 per phone…
Feel free to send them $5 for the team.
I have a screen from my old IPhone. No need to include one with new phones
I don’t even know how Apple and Macdaily can justify this. ICAL’D! Macdaily actually “rationalizing” not including a charger with a phone. To think of it why should my TV set, Macbook, monitor, coffee maker come with a charging cable. Ridiculous thinking. We all should have plenty of these “freebies” lying around. We all like using 3 year old cables and headphones vs new ones. Perhaps Macdaily/Apple think charging is a privilege. Now for the funny part. The cheaper Iphone SE will come with headphones, charger and a way to unlock (touch id) while in public and a new Iphone 12 cannot be charged and you can’t unlock it without taking off your face mask or using it’s new feature “passcodes”. Times are a changing indeed.
MDN is just a big ass kisser
Wake up Tony, you Android a$$$ki$$$3r
It shouldn’t matter to most consumers if there’s no charger. Almost everyone has a device with a USB port that can be used as a charger. I have at least six chargers from other products I’ve bought recently but I rarely use them as I’ve got dedicated wall chargers and powerstrips with USB chargers. I have a whole bunch of multiplug adapters. Apple can keep their lousy chargers. As for Apple EarPods, ugh. Don’t need ’em. I’d rather save the ecology and not have Apple make them. Not criticizing, I’m just saying we don’t all feel the same. Apple will always find a way to money-grab but as a shareholder, I’m ambivalent about their methods.
I swear if I had a choice of telling Apple to include or exclude a charger and EarPods, even for the same money, I’d tell them I don’t want them because I wouldn’t use them.
So email Tim Cook and tell him not to send one with your NEW iPhone
It is like getting a car without tires.
Many will likely piss and moan about this – as they did about the removal of the headphone jack – until the next iPhone cycle when the iPhone charges only wirelessly, at which point the angst over the charging cable and brick will be obviated.
5G? So the next iPhone is gonna give coronavirus?
Every iPhone I have purchased has included a charger better than the one before. If Apple does not wish to include one with a new iPhone, it should at least offer one at a deep discount when purchased with a new iPhone.
Why not go the Apple Watch Studio route… make it customizable… Charger is included in the price tag, but you get a discount if you don’t want them… and hey… include different colors of chargers and cables.