iPhone 12 does not come with power charger or earbuds in the box | Hacker News Reader

iPhone 12 does not come with power charger or earbuds in the box

9to5mac.com

49 pointstheBashShell83 comments

A lot will criticize Apple for doing this claiming they are cutting cost (which they are) but I keep finding earbuds and chargers from many of my old devices as I pack my house for moving. I am sure a lot of these accessories end up in the garbage without being used a single time.

On the flip side, I had a pair of earbuds break on me a few months back, after some digging around the house I ended up finding the pair that came with an old Samsung flip phone still in working condition after like 14 or 15 years.

Been using them the last few months, i'm actually pretty impressed with the quality. They're a lot sturdier and better sounding than any earbuds that came with more recent phones.

The charging cable does not really last very long. I need 3/4 charging cables in different places. I actually bought a few third party charging cables/charging pad as well.

They’re still including a cable in the box, but not a power adapter. Seems ok given the adapters don’t really wear out, but having another lightning to USBC cable never hurts.

I stopped buying all lightning cables when I got an anker wireless charging stand.

They are definitely cutting costs, though, in storage and shipping. Which is fine. Amazon doesn't even ship a cable with the Kindle, which is much more annoying as my Paperwhite has been the last micro USB device I've owned for several years.

They're also passing the cost down to customers.

Wasn't it always passed down?

Good. Their environmentally-friendly kind of marketing is hilariously questionable as they're countering it at the same time with their anti-repair efforts, but I agree with this step and don't know why some people are against it. The charging cables and earbuds included with phones have always been garbage-tier quality and everyone who buys such an expensive phone already has one for each bag.

Because Apple didn't discount their iPhones by the same price.

Plus, I really like their headphones and charging cables.

Maybe they added another $5 worth of hardware or cool features?

> everyone who buys such an expensive phone already has one for each bag

What about people who are moving over from Android? For that price tag I’d expect to get a charging cable preferably one of decent quality.

I think it comes with a USB-C to lightning cable, just not the charger “brick”.

> citing environmental reasons.

That's a weird way to greenwash profit reasons.

Warning: You've been down-voted into submission. How dare you criticize Apple, one of the biggest and richest companies in the world?

You must take all of their PR and advertising at 100% face value when you are on this site.

Yeah, if they really cared about environment, they would make their devices repairable/upgradable. At least, Macbook could do with non soldered RAM and a SSD you could change.

Although a good move, this just increases their margin. They could have reduced the price and added earphones/charger at a nominal price of say $20 as a starter kit with new phones.

Or they really did it because most iPhone users already have multiple of them sitting in a stack somewhere in their house and it makes sense to do so?

If it was only about environmental reasons, wouldn't they just make it optional?

As in, they could include a checkbox (that is unchecked by default) to get these items free in the checkout process. They already ask a million customization questions, why not make this one?

I'd also think that for the percentage of people who need the charger/earbuds, having to make a second purchase on amazon will overall increase the carbon footprint for that person, since two packages shipped are way more inefficient than one. This undermines their argument and seems like it makes them depend on externalities to make their ecological calculations work out.

Optional makes the supply chain worse by having to make two types of box, two production lines. Or by adding them separately you end up with more packaging material and more transport expense. This is a good move for the environment, even it doesn’t feel like it given the vast resources it must take to make the phone anyway.

I've been involved in the production of physical goods. You are right there's an increase in cost, although then the question becomes by how much.

There's the option to make the same packaging but one having an empty space where another has that space filled with these items.

Even if they had to make two separate boxes, I'd like to think that given Apple's volume, the additional costs in managing SKUs and packaging production wouldn't have too big of a hit on overall production costs. Especially when offsetting the decrease in cost of goods provided. I however don't know their numbers enough to knowledgeably argue this point. Though overall my point I think still stands regardless of the exact dollar amounts being discussed, I can't see those amounts being too serious an inpact on overall costs.

> If it was only about environmental reasons, wouldn't they just make it optional?

If the cost were the same, I'd check the box regardless of whether or not I actually needed the cable.

If the cost were not the same, we'd be in the same situation where we currently are, where you can, in addition to your phone, buy a wall charger.

they can just buy them at the same time they buy the phone if they want them

I mean it helps them lose new first time customers and lose previous customers as well (once you're off the wagon, you're off). I'm all for this.

"That's a weird way to greenwash profit reasons."

"I mean it helps them lose new first time customers and lose previous customers as well (once you're off the wagon, you're off). I'm all for this."

Pick a narrative and stick to it.

My narrative is that Apple is a market company that'll say anything to make a ridicious profit on their often times subpar technology.

Yeah right, I'm sure the amount of individuals in this category are so negligible to the overall numbers that it might as well be a rounding error. You want to not buy some $1000 phone due to not including $4 in accessories? You weren't the group they were selling to in the first place. We have so many cords around our work stations, sofas, and desks that the industry created and sustained an entirely successful third party market for chargers and cables. Almost all of my wireless chargers and usb hubs for all devices are some form of Amazon reseller or Anker.

You're basically talking about customers who have not bought a single USB device before. Is this a large segment?

So the article claims that device uses a proprietary connector (lightning jack) That is not a common USB cable. (Most USB cables were usb micro and are now becoming USB C)

Also, it depends on implementation as well. Some devices are compatible and need the quick chargers.

Or those who bought a phone but traded it in towards the cost of a new one. And the charger went with it, because otherwise you get a lower price...

Just imagine if they used a standard connector on the phone...

They could also eliminate the USB to Lightning cable that comes with it. Think of the environmental benefits to being able to share a cable with other devices.

How many millions of USB -> Lightning cables are they still going to be manufacturing, because they want to use Lightning for whatever reason.

Lightning predates USB C. If they switched now, everyone who has had an iPhone for years would moan about how they just obsoleted all the existing cables. It's a no-win scenario. I think they're just waiting for contactless charging to take over at this point.

That's such a shit take. This thread is so full of shills and I don't mind eating the downvotes to call them out.

https://euobserver.com/science/144538

Every smartphone manufacturer agreed to use a common charger except Apple, who mumbled something about "advanced functionality". They continue to exploit legal loopholes to allow themselves to be the only ones who have their own charger and, thus, the only ones who can massively profit off of their adapters (sure, others can make them, but they still have to pay the license fee). This isn't the first time they've tried to lock down their proprietary adapter - remember FireWire?

We're only here because Apple made sure to obsolete everyone's cables from before they implemented Lightning. It's fine if you genuinely prefer the Lightning cable but don't pretend that this is pro-consumer when it's really Apple screwing consumers to make a quick buck.

> who mumbled something about "advanced functionality".

This isn't fair. Each lightning connector has a small chip with MFI certification info, performs the magical asymmetric pin switching for reversibility, and in some situations it informs the device of the cable's purpose and functionality. E.g., at one company we built a custom lightning cable for high-speed (at the time) RT video streamed from a consumer camera. The cable's pins could be configured ad-hoc to support data transfer (when streaming) or power transfer (charging the camera) as needed.

Sure, today this can be done without a special cable and some custom USB drivers, but 8 years ago it was really cool.

Thanks for sharing. I still disagree but my disagreement is way less cool than your interesting use case.

Totally agree. Apple has often been one to change things in a way that makes the tech crowd moan. The winning situation is dump lightning and switch the iPhone to usb C - just like they did with the iPad.

Good point. USB C came first, and people would be happy to have all their Lightning cables turned into garbage.

Look, no one said the current state of things is good. I said no matter what Apple does there are downsides.

Obviously when faced with a situation where choice A annoys customers and makes Apple more money and choice B annoys customers and makes Apple less money, they’re going to pick A. They do sometimes leave some money on the table (you used to have to pay for the OS!), but only when it makes customers happy enough to offset the loss in money with gain in good will leading to future money.

Apple has been using a common charger from the first iPhone on, there never was an iPhone charger that was not USB.

Back the other brands came with a different, proprietary charger with a fixed cable for each model. Apple changed the cable once from the wide and weird dock-connector to the small and sturdy lightning port. That happened before USB-C was even invented.

As a long time Apple customer I‘m quite happy with their consistency here.

I'd be happy if Apple was consistent with their cables.

Right now, some have Lightning, some of USB-C. I hate having to carry so many cables when I travel (Lightning for phone, old brick for for Macbook, USB-C for iPad, proprietary cable for watch, USB micro for GPS).

As much as I'd rather they just use USB-C, the problem with it is that it's not standard. None of the fast charging USB-C things are compatible with each other (device, charger, or cable). At least with Lightning there's no chance of accidentally frying your device.

Sadly this is so true. I wish it weren't so, but here we are. USB C is a clusterfuck.

When I 1st heard they planned to do this, my reaction was negative. I've traditionally liked the fact that the box is complete, and also having a few spare chargers/headsets around.

But then I considered exactly how many old bits of redundant charger/headphone I've accumulated, and my family members.

This is a case where economic costs/profits and underlying resource constraints, as hoped, align. Let people reuse what they've got, or apply the fractional savings towards something they choose, rather than a baseline that's bundled for them.

If some consumers will react too negatively, Apple could throw in a gift-certificate good enough for an entry-level charger/headset, or applicable to the higher cost of something better.

The iphone is notorious for 'improper chargers' and 'improper cables' killing it. Apple is still going to sell their chargers and headphones, just now you're spending more money.

https://youtu.be/FLdliOJ0J24 at 5:00

I for one am glad Apple is passing the savings on to me. They are, right?

Of course, that's why they own as much of the phone development supply chain as they can and costs of phones dropped to $1000+ for consumers!

Pro-tip, they don't increase the cost by $3, $4, $5... every time they add a new component. Like, this year's high-end model has a friggin' LIDAR... and the price is the same as before.

Given that the lineup has almost the same price as last year's models, they probably are.

You don‘t even own an iPhone...

like that crazy machine they had that disassembled an iphone but probably was made for the video not to exist in recycling factories, like soldering ram to logic board, like when they decided to stop having white macbooks... To me it sounds just marketing. Apple, take measures to improve repairability, produce replacement parts for longer periods and allow upgrades to existing hardware if you want to be green.

Maybe a hot take, but I'm fine with this.

It would be nice if I could somehow donate all my unused power bricks and folks who need them could get them for free.

The 8 chargers and earbuds sitting in iPhone boxes in my closet are thankful for this change.

you're an extreme outlier.

I don't think 8 is that many. I probably have a dozen unused charger cubes, in addition to another dozen+ in use all over the house.

The problem is that every Android manufacturer will copy this because Apple did it.

We’re 15 years into the smartphone revolution now. I think people have enough wall plugs and cables by now.

Android manufacturers are just switching to USB-C from microUSB. So, no, nobody has 15 years of USB-C cables lying around.

I don't have a million USB-C cables, but I have a bunch. That is with me having just one USB device I use regularly (wireless headphone I got for cheap from amazon). I was shocked when digging through my drawer and pulling out three of those cables when I had exactly zero USB C devices. I am willing to bet I am the exception, not the norm though.

Android manufactures are just switching to USB C. And the budget phones are still sold with USB B

A few manufactures already do not include ear buds. I don't see the issue with not including the brick and earbuds. I don't use them anyway and it is just waste.

And that's a problem because?

Android (especially budget phones) are still sold with USB B. So they will switch to USB C and not bundle a charger with the box and market it as some environmental gain (which it is).

One of the nice consequences of doing this, and probably one of the big reasons companies like doing it, is that you don't have to produce manage different versions for different regional plug standards. For example, I assume all of Europe, including the UK, will now get the same iPhone 12 box.

I know this will save them money but I think it's a good change regardless. I haven't been using the chargers or earbuds that came with my phones in ages. They all just stayed in the box. Such a waste.

This seems like an acknowledgement that the market is largely saturated, and the main reason people buy these new devices is because advertising convinces them that their one- or two- or three-year-old device, which still works perfectly fine, is somehow no longer good enough.

I'd wager 99% of iPhone users come nowhere near pushing their device to its limits, and could continue using an earlier-generation device for several more years without any significant loss (except presumably to their ego).

Backward iOS compatibility is a great way to motivate people to upgrade. It is fun and exciting to install iOS 14 on your 6s. All new shiny widgets on an ancient phone. Thank you apple.

Everything largely works - but it isn't snappy anymore.

Gotta upgrade.

My 6S (Plus) is plenty snappy on iOS 14. Although I did swap the battery out under the free replacement program a few years ago.

If general system sluggishness is your primary impetus to upgrade an older iPhone, I'd highly recommend a battery replacement first. They're actually fairly inexpensive even directly from Apple[1], in the context of a $1k+ upgrade. And will absolutely feel like night and day if your existing battery is several years old.

[1] https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/service/battery-powe...

Considering the low cost of these items they should consider offering a free charger if purchased at a physical store upon request, perhaps even the same with the headphones.

That's actually a really good idea. It would make the obvious criticism (that they're doing this to help their bottom line, not the environment) evaporate. And I expect that most people would not request the things.

Which would be awesome, except that the USB-C adapter wasn't included with any iPhone until last year (and those people aren't buying a new phone, it's the people who have older devices and therefore won't have a charger to use with their $800 smartphone). They may not even have a USB-C adapter at all, the only device I regularly use with USB-C is the Switch and that charger can't charge the iPhone.

> Apple says doing this will save 2 million metric tons of carbon annually.

Apple's forced destruction of traded in iPhones continues unabated on the other hand. I feel that this is mainly driven by economic and not environmental concerns.

Which forced destruction is that? They recycle a lot of iPhone components.

> Which forced destruction is that?

I am referring to the lawsuit [0] that Apple recently filed against a recycler for selling rather than shredding old iPhones.

> They recycle a lot of iPhone components.

These components are lifted from previously working, usable iPhones that are destroyed to make room in the market for new iPhones. I believe my point stands.

[0] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/10/07/apple-g...

Charger cable still included, just not the little white box that goes into the outlet

how does this really help the environment when users will just buy these from 3rd parties? seems like it just reduces apple's emissions but doesnt reduce overall emissions. in fact, other companies peripherals probably have a "dirtier" process thats worse for the environment and arent as durable

Because they'll buy them once and keep using them as long as they work. I don't use Apple earbuds because they suck and I have a drawer full of lightning cables and a/c adapters, so why would I want more?

> arent as durable

I've heard a lot of opinions about iPhone charging cables, but "durable" was usually not the common description.

Solid charging cables will probably outlast multiple cables that come with phones in the box and often have warranties longer than any you get from Apple by default.

Also I have at least 5 USB charging cables lying around here and not a single one has died so far. It is undoubtedly better for the environment if I can just keep using them for 5+ more years instead of getting a new one with every electronic product.

I currently have half a dozen unused phone chargers in a box that I didn't actually want because I already have more functional multiport chargers in my house.

The moment you move from your first phone with an included charger to your second or third phone with an included charger, one of those chargers has a high likelihood of becoming effectively pointless. Not because the new one is any different. Just because now you have two when you only needed one.

that assumes they last forever, which they don't. assuming most people upgrade every few years, i gaurantee their original cords dont last

Chargers and cords are distinct products. And Apple's chargers do basically last forever.

These days almost everyone is buying AirPods to go with their new phone, or using the nice headphones they already have. While I’m sure there are still some people who are brand new to iPhone, at this point the market is so saturated that the large majority already have multiple chargers and headphones sitting around.

If it's about the environment how about making this opt-in (as in: the default is without the accessories but I can also get the device with a charger/cable when I want)? I understand it makes packaging and logistics a bit more complicated but not impossibly so.

But did Apple reduce the price of iPhones by the corresponding amount they charge for these accessories? Otherwise it is just marketing bs for squeezing more money from the customers.

"There's plenty of chargers in the world"

"We're including a USB C to Lightning cable in the box, so it doesn't work with your existing chargers"

Yes, I also saw that comment on reddit. I didn't think to plagiarize it here though.

https://old.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/jaidc5/iphone_12_doe...

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