Apple Now Selling 20W USB-C Power Adapter for $19

[Jimmy James]

No included headphones or wall charger. iPhone is same great price.

 

[Braderunner]

In defence of my post, the initial half provided a (hopefully helpful) response to a couple of people who were uncertain if they were required to use the USB-C cable in the first place. In addition to clarifying old chargers and lightning cables will work fine, I gave my personal feedback on what it is like to own an iPhone which came with a USB-C Lightning cable. I'll summarize: for my personal experience, it doesn't really matter much for 85% of the charging I do. I most often use USB-A adapters as I have more of those plugs positioned around the house.

I'm 100% fine with Apple making this change and it will not prevent me from buying a phone. As I said in my original post, I've often not even removed some of the lightning cables or 5W blocks from the boxes over the years.

I'll concede that I should have split up my my troll-esk, unsubstantiated opinion "many average consumers not on Internet forums probably won't care" to a few other people's equally opinionated messages that "all consumers will be outraged" into a second post as that was generally less helpful to the conversation.

If you're someone who is pissed that Apple doesn't include a $30-now-$20 power adapter ... sure, cool, you're entitled to feeling that way. But not everyone is going to feel the same. I am sharing my perspective as somebody who thinks it isn't a big deal, which is just valid as those posts from people who are angry about it sharing their opinion on the matter.

Then, go ahead and share your perspective. As your own comment. Not as a argument to someone else's.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

No included headphones or wall charger. iPhone is same great price.

On AT&T and Verizon, you actually get the phone for $30 cheaper. On T-Mobile, though, you pay full price.

 

[C DM]

Lol, never bought anything with “batteries not included“ on the box? Good luck with that lawsuit. I am sure that your idea is boggling more than my mind.

Overall the responses in this thread seem to be missing the point. A 5w charger will charge any of these phones overnight when, I would hazard a guess, most people charge their phones. If you have a 5w charger, and if the majority of people are being honest you do, you also have a USB Type A to Lightning connector. I believe the people who have sold their previous phone with their one-and-only charger and cable will be in the significant minority.

So, really, who is being inconvenienced by this move by Apple? In truth, very few. In the meantime millions of chargers are not being put out into the world which will actually do good. I would put that in the communal win column.

What I do read in this thread is a great deal of grandstanding and pontification, truth be damned, which is representative of the current level of discourse in out world. That’s the real tragedy here.

Well it's a win for Apple, not the consumers (short of some of them just feeling better about Apple for one reason or another).

 

[compwiz1202]

Capable of powering that larger battery for 5G drain.

I wonder what the max usable wattage will be for the 12s. I know my 11PM is over 20W

 

[compwiz1202]

Lol, never bought anything with “batteries not included“ on the box? Good luck with that lawsuit. I am sure that your idea is boggling more than my mind.

Overall the responses in this thread seem to be missing the point. A 5w charger will charge any of these phones overnight when, I would hazard a guess, most people charge their phones. If you have a 5w charger, and if the majority of people are being honest you do, you also have a USB Type A to Lightning connector. I believe the people who have sold their previous phone with their one-and-only charger and cable will be in the significant minority.

So, really, who is being inconvenienced by this move by Apple? In truth, very few. In the meantime millions of chargers are not being put out into the world which will actually do good. I would put that in the communal win column.

What I do read in this thread is a great deal of grandstanding and pontification, truth be damned, which is representative of the current level of discourse in out world. That’s the real tragedy here.

I just wonder if it will be made abundantly clear during the order process that it does not have a power brick and you will need a USB-C port is some form to charge. Not everyone is an Apple Fanatic like we are on the forums. Of could we have multiple power bricks and power banks and macs/laptops with USB-C, but the noobs or Apple Laymen may not have anything, and don't read everywhere to know it is being omitted. I'm sure there won't be a TV ad highlighting Look Ma no power brick!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Maybe they could leave out the cable next year? Seems a bit of a waste leaving it in the box ready to pass it on when the phone is sold secondhand in a couple of years. It’s possibly the most pointless accessory with an iPhone yet unless you already have a USB-C plug or port.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I just wonder if it will be made abundantly clear during the order process that it does not have a power brick and you will need a USB-C port is some form to charge.

There’s a note that includes “Please use your current adapter or purchase separately” if you’re buying through Apple. I haven’t checked Verizon or ATT, but those companies cut your price by $30 anyway.

 

[yozh]

Lol, never bought anything with “batteries not included“ on the box? Good luck with that lawsuit. I am sure that your idea is boggling more than my mind.

Overall the responses in this thread seem to be missing the point. A 5w charger will charge any of these phones overnight when, I would hazard a guess, most people charge their phones. If you have a 5w charger, and if the majority of people are being honest you do, you also have a USB Type A to Lightning connector. I believe the people who have sold their previous phone with their one-and-only charger and cable will be in the significant minority.

So, really, who is being inconvenienced by this move by Apple? In truth, very few. In the meantime millions of chargers are not being put out into the world which will actually do good. I would put that in the communal win column.

What I do read in this thread is a great deal of grandstanding and pontification, truth be damned, which is representative of the current level of discourse in out world. That’s the real tragedy here.

Really, I think much more then very few(there are much more scenarios where people would have to buy something then there is not), they are going to sell more adapters, 3rd party adapters will be sold more... there will be more car adapters bought since most cars dont have USB-C chargers and most consumers will think thats all they can use... also same for the USB-C to Lightning cables... there will be more phones with either fully damaged/bricked batteries and/or long term damage, which will in it self is very bad for environment...



I dont really care, but all this lately stuff with apple is starting to leave a bad taste... they are becoming more and more user unfriendly... and less and less customer experience centric..

 

[paradox00]

Your logic makes zero sense. Giving you an adapter is giving you something that you can use, potentially use if you lose one, or give to someone else to use. For someone that needs one now they have to buy an additional adapter.

My logic is that only people who need an adapter should get one, which makes perfect sense. Your logic that everyone given a charger they don't need should form a secondary distribution network for those who do need one (and the numbers will magically work out so that no one has extra chargers) is what makes zero sense. You can be angry about what you see as a cash grab by Apple and still maintain rational thought. You should try that.

 

[hans1972]

My point was exactly this... I dont understand who has USB-C adapters laying around in this day and age... only see USB type adapters... its obviously a plot to charge more... If they are selling it separately, its still the same exact impact, this is just a crazy move... like earpods maybe, but people cant even charge there phone ? or sync to basically nowhere with USB-C cable, unless its a newer MAC... or buy an older style cable... Im astonished at what they are doing... a

If you have an iPhone today, you can use the exact same charger and cable to charge a new iPhone.

Let's say Apple ships 180 million iPhones a year and only 20 millions will need to buy chargers/cables. It is sill a win for the climate.

 

[hans1972]

I'll bet it comes in it's own packaging, not as environmentally friendly as it would have been to include it with the phone.

What has more impact on the climate?

1) Producing ans shipping 180 million phones and chargers

2) Producing and shipping 180 million phones and 20 million chargers in separate packages

I am pretty sure 2) wins and this is probably close to what will happen.

 

[hans1972]

It’s almost like USB doesn’t have different ports, adapters don’t provide different wattage, or new iPhones don’t come with different charging features after 10 years.

True but any USB-charger released in the last 20 years (and works according to the spec) will charge the new iPhones with a Lightning cable.

 

[C DM]

If you have an iPhone today, you can use the exact same charger and cable to charge a new iPhone.

Let's say Apple ships 180 million iPhones a year and only 20 millions will need to buy chargers/cables. It is sill a win for the climate.

With a decision to do that by a company but at the cost of the consumer.

 

[C DM]

What has more impact on the climate?

1) Producing ans shipping 180 million phones and chargers

2) Producing and shipping 180 million phones and 20 million chargers in separate packages

I am pretty sure 2) wins and this is probably close to what will happen.

There's still something to factor that for those 20 million chargers, aside from more separate packaging that would be needed, there's more separate shipments (and thus vehicles, gas, etc.) that would be needed, and more separate deliveries (and thus vehicles, gas, etc.) the would be needed, and various other logistics that wouldn't be there if they are part of the same packaging/shipments/deliveries as the iPhones. Perhaps option 2 would still be better overall, but it still all involves more than just simple arithmetic at the surface.

 

[hans1972]

If Apple did this purely for the environment and not greed, they could have easily include a voucher for customers to claim a charger from them as needed.
But nope, Apple is gonna charge $19 for it.

By giving away something for free, more people will get it for free and thus impact the carbon footprint which Apple is concerned about.

 

[hans1972]

There's still something to factor that for those 20 million chargers, aside from more separate packaging that would be needed, there's more separate shipments (and thus vehicles, gas, etc.) that would be needed, and more separate deliveries (and thus vehicles, gas, etc.) the would be needed, and various other logistics that wouldn't be there if they are part of the same packaging/shipments/deliveries as the iPhones. Perhaps option 2 would still be better overall, but it still all involves more than just simple arithmetic at the surface.

You have to remember that iPhones are flown in from China. Apple said they would reduce carbon foot print equal to 450 000 gas cars for one year.

If you are buying a charger from Apple, Apple will count that in their carbon foot print.

 

[C DM]

You have to remember that iPhones are flown in from China. Apple said they would reduce carbon foot print equal to 450 000 gas cars for one year.

If you are buying a charger from Apple, Apple will count that in their carbon foot print.

Not sure about that. Seems like that comparison could simply be in the scope of just comparing to previous shipments of iPhones specifically, not necessarily accounting for everything, like potential increases in that due to more packages of something like power adapters.

 

[hans1972]

Well, as long as they drop the price of the new phone by the equivalent of how much they will charge me for a charger I am OK with it. Problem is that the BS of saving the planet will go to their pockets. That is what I don’t like.

Are you against making huge amounts of profit and at the same time being climate friendly?

 

[hans1972]

Not sure about that. Seems like that comparison could simply be in the scope of just comparing to previous shipments of iPhones specifically, not necessarily accounting for everything, like potential increases in that due to more packages of something like power adapters.

Apple is already today carbon neutral for their own operations and they also promised to be 100% carbon neutral for their entire supply chain by 2030. They even released a 10-year plan how to achieve this.

How can they achieve this unless they are measuring their carbon footprint?

 

[C DM]

Are you against making huge amounts of profit and at the same time being climate friendly?

Nothing wrong with that per se, but there's something about making it come off like it's just a benevolent thing all for the environment while having the consumers basically pay for it. Either don't present it that way or buy into it too by not just doing it at the cost of someone else. It's kind of easy to say you are doing something if you are making someone else pay for it and in the process even making more money yourself because of it.

 

[hans1972]

that's fine, but have the option of getting one free if you need one. to add $19 on top of your phone purchase is ridiculous.

If it was free more people would get it and thus increase the carbon foot print.

Making cheap products that people want is not very climate friendly.

 

[hans1972]

And for all of the environment defenders in here, please explain to me why I all of a sudden have a multitude of usb-c chargers for my iPhone. I find it curious that every single iPhone ever has had a standard USB-A connection. And then magically, the year Apple removes the charging brick, they include a usb-c charging cable?

Can someone please explain that to me? Where are all of these usb-c iPhone chargers Apple claims we all have lying around. They never in their history Included one for the iPhone.

Ohhhhhh, its so people will purchase the $19 usb-c brick because they’ll need it when they walk out of the store.

Where are my enviro people who can explain. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

The iPhone 11 Pro did include a USB-C charger.

If you don't have a USB-C charger you can use your existing charger (from any manufacturer) and cable to charge the new iPhone.

 

[hans1972]

No, a move cannot be made for both environment and profit when one of them is completely false.

Almost everything Apple do and almost everything we has humans do are bad for the climate. The goal is not to cease life as we know it but to preserve the way of life that we do enjoy but with as little impact on the environment and the climate as possible.

It is possible that Apple was not motivated by profit.

Example:
Tim Cook: I want Apple to be carbon neutral for our entire supply chain by 2030. How can we achieve that?
Employee: We could stop shipping chargers and EarPods with every iPhone.
Tim Cook: How much carbon foot print would that reduce.
Employee: Equeal to about 450 000 gas cars.
Tim Cook: How much will this cost Apple?
Employee: We will make billions in the years to come by doing this.
Tim Cook: Great, go ahead!
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Oh well... So now my car's usb outlet will be absolutley useless, unless I get an extra usb-a to lighting cable, or adaptor... :/

Can't you just keep the cable you use today?

 

[hans1972]

The issue I have is the fact that they are changing the cable too. How many people have USB-C chargers lying around? You‘re apparently are ok being “nickel and dimed“ but when you pay $1k for a phone, it should come with everything you need for it to work. Period. It’s like buying a new house with no lightbulbs. What‘s $100 worth of light bulbs on a $500k house? $1k phone and you can’t even charge it that night without buying something new. C’mon!

The rational mind would then say is it worth it to buy the house for $500.1k and if it isn't don't buy the house.

I have no problem buying a new house without light bulbs as long as I know it beforehand.