Apple has recently started sending surveys to iPhone users about how they use the USB charger that comes in the box. This comes amidst rumors about Apple not including the USB charger and EarPods in the iPhone box for the first time with this fall’s release of the iPhone 12 models.
Currently, Apple includes an 18W USB-C Power Adapter (iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max) which is used with the the also-included USB-C to Lightning Cable to charge the iPhone battery. Other iPhone models include the Apple USB power adapter which is used with the also-included Lightning to USB Cable to charge the iPhone battery. The size and type of the adapter depends on your iPhone model and your country or region.
The survey asks users what they did with the USB charger of their previous iPhone after replacing it with a new model, so Apple is targeting people who were already iPhone users and recently bought a new one.
The survey includes a series of checkboxes with multiple possibilities on how consumers use their iPhone chargers, including:
I sold or traded it with my iPhone
I lost it
I gave it to a family member or friend
I still use it at home
I still use it outside (at work, school, or other places)
I still have it, but I don’t use it
MacDailyNews Take: So, as per your iPhone charger:
Selling an iPhone without a charger is like selling a car without tires.
You mean like the new Mac Pro’s wheels or the monitor stand?
Exactly! Apple was not this tight and cheap under Steve Cook. Blames lies squarely on the shoulders of beancounter Cook who treats customers like second class citizens…
I’m OK either way. I have several chargers and earbuds. I could do without. It would save plastic waste, manufacturing waste, You could get both items as good as or better if you need them. I would rather save the money at purchase than getting my 5th set or earbuds and third charger. I have a few .
You won’t save anything, Apple will charge the same price or more. The “savings” will cover the costs of 5G supposedly.
You might save if you buy a non-Apple one instead?
No, because you will pay the same full price but you will not have any charger, Apple or non-Apple
If only they surveyed us about the notch. Could we have changed history for the better?
I would love a newer phone with better cameras, but alas I’m still using a 2017 iPhone SE because I must have a headphone jack.
You are jokin, right?
No! I do the same and typing this on my SE now. What’s the problem with that?…
Apple is asking for another frivolous class action lawsuit.
To save for extra charges brought by 5G…is the supposed reason Apple is considering shipping the next iPh w/o charger/buds.
What was the supposed explanation for the last iPhone price hike? Declining unit sales/income was to be “compensated” by the unit price hike.
All phone vendors will, apparently, be dinged by the costs of incorporating 5G tech. Does this mean ALL phone vendors will either raise prices, ship something less, or just experience a drop in margin?
I don’t buy the explanation. iPhone sales/rev is decreasing and cutting costs is necessary. I’d wager, if unit and rev numbers were robust, this wouldn’t be on the table.
I don’t need a new charger not a new screen. I’ll just take the screen off my old phone
Apple (i.e., Tim Cook), you know what you already have decided, and already felt so much heat. Surveys? Clever! Just don’t attempt to blame consumers, sighting what you call “surveys”. This is the strangest question that any phone makers would ask users. I do have more than a few chargers lying around but I want to see even the cheapest (W) charger in a new iPhone box. I have many uses and many places to use these little chargers. Apple’s nickel and diming mentality continues🙄
Just wish to add something here. Ever since I purchased the 1st MacBook, I accumulated various capacities of chargers, 18W and all (for iPads too). I. used larger blocks for quick charging my iPhones (I use 2 of them). But in the last 12 months or so, I learned to use these 5 W blocks more and more for slow charging such as overnight or even resting phones on wireless chargers on desktop (good for the battery if you are not in a super hurry). And these are useful in every room so I do not have to carry around chargers. Apple, pls make up your mind. It’s not for you to ask consumers but you have to decide it yourself. Surveys on a little 5W block? Come on, Apple! How much do you save by not including it when selling $1000+ phone? A couple or few dollars at most, and made in China, oh well….
Apple spent more on door handle and elevator button design in Apple Park than they’ll save by gipping customers out of their chargers. At their scale it’s pennies for each charger and cable, shipping weight and box size is more of a consideration. I’ll bet Apple spent $1 billion in salaries to come up with this “genius” $100 million savings idea.
And what about newcomers to iPhone, or converts from Android etc? Truly strange survey that stinks.
personally, I just buy iPhones for the charger. Don’t even know what happens to the phones as I never end up using them, but I like carrying around the charger in my pocket and I’m sure a lot of other people are just like me.
That’s interesting. I buy the phone so I have something in my phone belt-case. I always buy new for latest colors and because I like shiny objects. I travel to the neighboring small towns to use pay-phones at their gas stations. Yeah, it’s a small hassle for a huge pleasure. I guess we’re all different.
Honestly I must have 20 chargers for our three iPhones, 4 ipads and 2 MacBook Airs. We have them in every room, in our backpacks, in my office, in the car, you name it!
If the upgrade cycle goes fast enough, we will be able to trade in our iPhones routinely before they even need charging.
Who wants to plug their shiny new phone into a scroungy old charger with leftover Hello Kitty sticker goo on it and a “white” cable that looks like it has some tropical disease which makes funny sparking sounds when you bend the wire a certain direction? Give us a new one!
The question is actually if you don’t use it WHY? the answer its crap, and is my extra charger My main. charger is faster, PLEASE put a useful charger the answer is I DO USE IT. Even iPhone SE is expensive enough to justify a GOOD charger, and Apple tase Billions of Dollars to prove it.
At least part of this comes from the EU which doesn’t want phones, tablets or portable devices of any kind to be sold with a recharger. They want people to reuse their old chargers. Apple has been fighting with them for years now as legislation has mandated the socket a phone and tablet can have. They want Apple to drop FireWire to be compatible with standard USB chargers, which makes no sense, as the plug on a device has nothing to do with it, as it’s the plug on the charger end of the cable that matters.
So while their may be some truth to the idea that apple is trying to keep the cost of 5G phones down a bit by not including chargers (and maybe EarPods), but a lot of it may be an attempt to appease the hostile EU.
They should have the option of headphones and charger or no or select the headphone you want with the phone so I am not buying a new iPhone and then a set of EarPods and giving away the headphones that came with the iPhone.
That’s interesting, I just buy the phone for something to put in the case. I buy the latest phone because I like new colors and shiny objects. I don’t need the charger because I use pay phones. I guess we’re all different.
Yes, I am persistent and nasty. I am a known Cook hater, but don’t hate him as much as I distrust him.
I forgive you Apple, as long as you don’t repack this little thing in elaborate and environmentally unfriendly package at the price of $20 (or more). You eliminated 3.5mm jack. The result was a huge hyping up of wireless EarPods that cost more than $200. yes, clever…. (and super greedy mentality).
So if I replace my iPhone every-other year I’m supposed to keep the same chargers?
They never wear out?
They never get lost (‘borrowed’)?
They never change types?
I’m thinking Apple is heading towards wireless charging exclusively.
So you just buy one charger from Apple….and then the next year a better one (newer color!!!) will come out…
If, as you say, Apple is heading toward the totally wireless charging, their move to eliminate the charging block could be partially justified, even though they do not have pristine record of past technical attempts. But then, question still remains. Even the wireless charger needs to be powered. That wireless charger will come with the charging block (no 5W block will work. I know that by experience), except it is sold separately at exorbitant price. Still do not make sense that Apple resorted to the public “survey”. Can we trust Mr.Cook about the motive of this survey?,lol
I am feeling obsessed by this thread. Time to digress back to the regular programming….
99% of the time I charge my iPhone wirelessly.
I have a dozen or more of Apple USB-2 chargers floating around that are never used.
However I do not have many USB-C chargers since Apple only started using those for iPhones last year.
So whilst I think it a good idea to reduce e-waste by not bundling a charger with the iPhone, I think they should wait a year before implementing this.
How about giving users the option to have a charger thrown in for free? Then those that have plenty will not need one whilst newbies will be able to get one at no additional cost.
Apple has a tendency to remove needed items from their products and then we have to buy ‘accessories’ in order to use these things at their full potential.
I hate that they do this.
“But the packaging would look so svelte!”
–idiot
What a bunch of whiners! MDN has become the place for whining about everything Apple. A sad turn of things. Steve is dead, get over it (we all miss him), Apple has to evolve too and personally I think it now fires on all cylinders!
If some users don’t want the charger they can give it to someone, store it, or throw it away. Defending Apple to not include it only benefits Apple.