Apple Does Not Include a Charger With All New MacBooks in UK and EU

[MacRumors]

None of the new MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro models unveiled this week come with a charger in the UK and EU countries, such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. This change began with the base 14-inch MacBook Pro last year.

If you need a power adapter, you must purchase one separately during checkout or later.

In all other countries, Apple includes a charger in the box with these Macs, at no additional cost. In the U.S., for example, the MacBook Neo ships with Apple's 20W USB-C Power Adapter (sold separately for $19), while the 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with Apple's 140W USB-C Power Adapter (sold separately for $99).

Apple includes a USB-C or MagSafe 3 charging cable with all of the new MacBooks sold worldwide.

Article Link: Apple Does Not Include a Charger With All New MacBooks in UK and EU

 

[Xade]

For the environment. (Wink wink!) Nothing to do with profits. Not at all. Move along! Nothing to see here....

 

[JPack]

Like high VAT rates, this is another self-inflicted wound by Europe.

The EU rule doesn't even make sense. If you buy a new computer or electronic device, what's the chance you have an extra power adapter? If you had one, chances are, you bought it because you wanted an extra one in the first place.

 

[Martin Bland]

To be fair, when in Europe, do as the Europeans do - where restaurants can't fathom providing their patrons free tap water. Where shops have no benches for bored waiting boyfriends and husbands. And where restrooms are paid without the benefit of being cleaned. Laptops without chargers fit right in (along with adhering to some EU regulatory encroachment, I presume)

 

[danbuter]

This is because of Euro laws.

 

[chrono1081]

For the environment. (Wink wink!) Nothing to do with profits. Not at all. Move along! Nothing to see here....

It actually has to do with a law the EU passed. This isn't Apples fault this is the EUs.

 

[GeezGlitch]

LOL sucks for you brits

 

[snipr125]

Like high VAT rates, this is another self-inflicted wound by Europe.

Surely it’s better for the environment though in terms of e waste? You can still just use your existing iPhone fast charger for the neo straight out the box.

 

[JohnC1959]

I personally support this. I basically never use the one that Apple included with my M2 Air. At my desk I charge from my thunderbolt dock. Around the house I have USB-C power supplies in various rooms for various devices.

 

[kiranmk2]

This is because of Euro laws.

It actually has to do with a law the EU passed. This isn't Apples fault this is the EUs.

What laws are these? The only one I'm aware of that mobile/small devices must be chargable by USB-C. I haven't heard anything about not including chargers in the box.

LOL sucks for you brits

The UK isn't in the EU...

 

[segfaultdotorg]

The EU caused millions of Lightning cables to be thrown in the landfill in the name of being better for the environment. Its USB-C mandate will soon be replaced by a USB-D mandate and the same exact thing will happen again.

 

[chrono1081]

What laws are these? The only one I'm aware of that mobile/small devices must be chargable by USB-C. I haven't heard anything about not including chargers in the box.

This one. Basically the universal charging port was just the first step. Unbundling chargers with the sale of new devices is another step. It's to prevent e-waste.

 

[Xade]

It actually has to do with a law the EU passed. This isn't Apples fault this is the EUs.

Which law? The European Union's Common Charger Directive (EU) 2022/2380? It says manufacturers must offer consumers the option to purchase devices without a charger. It doesn't say they mustn't include one in the box.

 

[JPack]

Surely it’s better for the environment though in terms of e waste? You can still just use your existing iPhone fast charger for the neo straight out the box.

But I don't want to share. My iPhone charger is by my bed. Under normal circumstances, someone with a MacBook will want a dedicated charger.

 

[chrono1081]

Which law? The European Union's Common Charger Directive (EU) 2022/2380? It says manufacturers must offer consumers the option to purchase devices without a charger. It doesn't say they mustn't include one in the box.

From the link I posted above:

"
Unbundling the sale of a charger from the sale of the electronic device

Consumers are able to purchase a new electronic device without a new charger. This limits the number of chargers on the market or left unused. Reducing production and disposal of new chargers is estimated to reduce the amount of electronic waste by 980 tonnes yearly. "

 

[JPack]

Which law? The European Union's Common Charger Directive (EU) 2022/2380? It says manufacturers must offer consumers the option to purchase devices without a charger. It doesn't say they mustn't include one in the box.

It's an outcome almost anyone would have predicted. Most manufacturers aren't going to double their SKUs and offer: 1) charger in box and 2) without charger. The easiest solution is to offer nothing and make customers buy separately.

 

[Soi Dog]

And so What? I have plenty chargers, even my monitor does it. we don't need another Brik on the apple wall.

 

[Xade]

From the link I posted above:

"
Unbundling the sale of a charger from the sale of the electronic device

Consumers are able to purchase a new electronic device without a new charger. This limits the number of chargers on the market or left unused. Reducing production and disposal of new chargers is estimated to reduce the amount of electronic waste by 980 tonnes yearly. "

Unbundling includes Option. 'Option' to me means 'Would you like a charger with that?' Same price. You want the charger, you take the charger. If, like you, you support not getting one, don't take one. Easy. Don't make me spend more money for a charger I do actually need.

 

[tonmischa]

I haven't heard anything about not including chargers in the box.

Directive 2014/53/EU, last amended on 2024, Dec 28
Article 3a, Paragraph 1:

"Where an economic operator offers to consumers and other end-users the possibility to acquire the radio equipment referred to in Article 3(4) together with a charging device, the economic operator shall also offer the consumers and other end-users the possibility of acquiring that radio equipment without any charging device."

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014L0053-20241228

EDIT: Wow, I am late with my answer 🙂

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Like high VAT rates, this is another self-inflicted wound by Europe.

The EU rule doesn't even make sense. If you buy a new computer or electronic device, what's the chance you have an extra power adapter? If you had one, chances are, you bought it because you wanted an extra one in the first place.

The EU rules demands unbundling. OEMs have several options

- offer to choose to buy the computer without a charger/ select the charger for free

- reduce the base price and if you select the charger, charge the "full" normal price (what many do)

- be an ******* like apple and keep the same price , whilst making the charger paid (and overpriced too)

 

[swester]

Honestly, GOOD on Apple. Since they've standardized USB charging, I have drawers full of unnecessary chargers already. This cuts down on pointless waste.

 

[The_Gream]

The EU caused millions of Lightning cables to be thrown in the landfill in the name of being better for the environment. Its USB-C mandate will soon be replaced by a USB-D mandate and the same exact thing will happen again.

You won’t get USB type D because this law would make it nearly impossible to adapt, seeing as everyone would need to change over in a short time frame.

 

[JohnC1959]

You won’t get USB type D because this law would make it nearly impossible to adapt, seeing as everyone would need to change over in a short time frame.

The good news (so far) is that the USB-C form factor allows future improvements that should extend for a good while.

 

[losthismarbles]

It's not Apple's fault, this is EU-mandated.
EU pushed and pushed for this and now they have it, so congratulations to them.
/irony

However! ^^
i) Apple didn't exactly fight tooth and nail over this, because end of the day?
a) They sell for the same money but spend even less on the product (no charger included)
b) they didn't have much to worry about in PR terms; just blame the EU when this passes.

ii) to be fair to everyone, this did not happen because EU has lost its mind or has a bone to pick (been reading comments long before i joined, so i've seen the posts from US folks).
This begun when they realised Apple has "exclusive" chargers/cables -without needing to- and therefore
a) a monopoly of sorts, self-evident i hope
b) a proven issue given the multitude of Chinese knockoffs sold en masse to the unaware, with the expected consequences of course, ie damaged equipment. In short, a.. small? Puny? Partially doomed to be ineffective? Attempt at breaking their monopoly.. at the very least on accessories that could easily have been compatible with what was already out there, ie they made them "exclusive" for profit alone.
Will remind a similar 'war' was fought over the Thunderbolt cable. For the exact same reasons.

This is a typical case of "how it started" (+) and, ultimately, "how it ended" (-).
A fail in my opinion. But, let's keep it fair and portray everything as it was.

 

[robfoll]

Really good call, exactly as they're doing with iPhones. I must have at least 6 USB‑C chargers. My monitor provides power to a USB‑C laptop, as do a couple of different adapters. This rule saves a staggering amount of electronic waste and reduces packaging materials and shipping costs. win/win. It's only a 20w charger and even a decent one from Anker or Ugreen costs peanuts if you actually need to buy one.