Let's say Apple (or another company) actually does care about the environment and wants to reduce waste, what would you propose they do regarding chargers and earbuds that wouldn't come off as just a money grab?
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Apple Ordered to Stop Selling iPhones Without Charger in Brazil [Updated]
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Let's say Apple (or another company) actually does care about the environment and wants to reduce waste, what would you propose they do regarding chargers and earbuds that wouldn't come off as just a money grab?
The main point that I have been trying to make is that since USB-C is still fairly recent, most people do not have spare USB-C charging bricks laying around like they do USB-A charging bricks. Apple switched from USB A to USB C lightning cables the same time they took out the brick. Brand new iPhone users that do not have any USB C bricks will have to either buy a new brick or a new cable, yes it is a minor inconvenience but it is one that Apple caused.
It feels more like the people criticising this move by Apple are the ones unable to see beyond their own nose.
1) If people need a charger, there's a plethora to choose from. The beauty here is that they do not have to use the one bundled by Apple anymore. They are free to get one from say, Anker, a multi-port charger, or even one of those fancy 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers to handle the charging of multiple devices.
2) Most users likely already have a charger, and chances are, said charger will be better than the one included by Apple at any rate. I for one can safely say that the 5w charger from my 5s, 6s+ and 8+ have sat untouched in the original packaging. I also just recently bought a 9th gen iPad for my mom, and even the 20w charger is still in the original box.
So even if Apple were to include a charger, odds are that I wouldn't be using it either way. And I believe I am far from being the only one.
3) At the volume that the iPhone ships (I project 300 million for the year 2022), we are looking at a lot of charging bricks not shipped. Even if a percentage of new iPhone customers end up buying a charger, it's still a lot of e-waste not generated, especially when we go back to point no.1 where the consumer doesn't necessarily have to buy a charger from Apple.
By being able to fit more iPhones into each shipping container, we are also looking at a much smaller carbon footprint by Apple as they ship iPhones all around the world.
4) What this move likely does, in addition to cutting down on the amount of e-waste generated, is to also lower the cost of each iPhone (both from the omission of the charger, as well as the reduced shipping fees from a smaller box), which helps to offset what would otherwise have been a higher price tag for the iPhone.
This is what the critics don't understand - they see that the price of the iPhone either stays the same or increases slightly, in addition to losing the charger, and think that this is nothing more than a blatant cash grab by Apple, not thinking that the price increase (due to iPhones costing more to make) could have been more had the charger stayed inside the box.
Based on the points raised above, I really can't see a good reason to continue bundling chargers with the iPhone. Rather than cost me money, this move is likely saving the average iPhone user money instead. Money that could have gone towards buying more accessories, or simply a better charger should they so desire.
People are twisting themselves into pretzels trying to defend Apple for a move that was obviously about making extra profit as opposed to their lie about it being for the environment.
For it to be a comparison, most everyone who goes to McDonalds would have to already have an available bun on hand but they’d rather another, though even that comparison doesn’t work well since with food.
They would probably want to see a price decrease for the iPhone as well. It's the same mentality as complaining that the base MBA comes with only 8gb ram and 256gb storage, or for those clamouring for a modular Mac. It's not that people can't pay to upgrade the specs accordingly; it's that they don't want to.
And here's the secret of running a successful company - you don't give your consumers everything they say they want. It's a surefire way to go out of business.
I do feel we are at a point where the number of people who already own a charging brick from a previous smartphone is the majority, compared to the people owning a smartphone for the first time and don't already have a compatible charging brick lying around. It just doesn't make sense to continue bundling a charging brick (and a likely underpowered one at that) in every phone just for the small number of users who legitimately might need one, while knowing that it's simply going to end up as e-waste for everyone else.
Condescending replies.
Apple should posts studies of its assertion of helping the environment since it’s literally publicizing it.
5w chargers still work but slow but not the point.
Many don’t buy newer tech often so many don’t have newer stuff like USB C chargers.
Never had a USB C charger until I got the 13 Pro.
A 'minority' of people who don't have USB C chargers is Irrelevant, esp. outside of MR forums.
Many people who don't have USB C chargers would have to buy them now which is the point, considering the iPhone 12/13 models include a USB C charger to lightning cable.
That tells people that Apple wants people to upgrade the charger as the original 5W charger doesn't cut it anymore.
Guess many MR posters have the latest Apple tech while others don’t. Excuse the rest of the world for not having them.
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Exactly. As implied I think that the overall number of sold units would decrease if there is not some new and shiny "best iPhone ever" every year - but then again that is just my naive opinion
my post:
“The environment” doesn’t care if it’s thrown away in 5 years or 50 years, it’s still thrown away. The Apple II, throwaway. The Mac Classic, throwaway. The iPhone is no more “throwaway” than any other electronic device.
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Brazil’s goal is to request enough money that will line their coffers well (a few select coffers), but not that the company in question will refuse to pay. It’s like their last “fine”. The only difference is that in this case the government have to pretend to care about something actually changing. YOU found the REAL money grab.
And what’s wrong with that? Are you implying only Apple is allowed to sell chargers? Apple already made those chargers so the waste is already there. If waste is a true concern, then Apple should stop making those chargers altogether.
That would go like this:
“I don’t trust Apple, they should release numbers”
Apple releases numbers.
“OF COURSE they’d release numbers that supports that they produce and sell WAY fewer chargers. I don’t trust Apple’s numbers!”
I would hardly call usb-c chargers as being the latest Apple tech.
1) You have options beyond the standard charger Apple would have bundled in the iPhone. Make full use of it.
2) When you next upgrade your phone, that's 1 less charger being produced.
3) Look beyond yourself and your own immediate needs. Say there are 10 people buying an iPhone. 2 need chargers, the other 8 already have them. Even with the additional packaging incurred from 2 standalone chargers, it's still a net savings in terms of e-waste.
And Apple will make fewer chargers, as the demand for them decreases. There is no doubt that 300 million iPhones sold a year without chargers is going to reduce in less waste than 300 million iPhones sold with them.
In another few years, we will look back and be amazed that this was ever an issue of contention.
Disagreement with your posts is condescension?
Don't blame them for not publicizing it. But it makes common sense that not producing 300 million charges and smaller packaging and less weight is a win-win all around.
That is exactly the point. Apple will include a 5w charger to satisfy the regulation and then some people will buy a new one anyway.
My assertion is that these people are in the minority. Why manufacture 200million chargers because a minority will have to buy one.
That's not true at all if you read the forums.
Wow and you complained my post was condescending?
It’s not. It’s simply helping Apple’s bottom line.
You know it has nothing to do with the environment when the Chinese are doing the same thing, removing chargers from theirs. Xiaomi is announcing that they will do the same, and that is a company that is releasing cheap phones with outdated hardware and software every 6 months, so they couldn’t care less about the environment.
If they’re buying a new iPhone, then they’d still get use out of the charger. If they’re not buying a new iPhone and not giving the charger to the person that’s getting their old iPhone… then are they keeping it BUT not using it, due to the sentimental value?
“We’ve been through a watt, charger, you and I. And joule’ll eventually agree with my volt to keep you!”
Yeah, I sort of touched on that idea in another post. I assumed that the product and packaging cost for a charger is pretty small so eliminating it would only reduce the phone price a tiny bit (and given Apple's desire to have prices end in "9" it may not have changed the price at all!
).The reality is that Apple actually did lower prices on some iPhones in 2020 (the year they eliminated charger and earbuds) e.g., the 256GB and 512GB iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max models were each $50 cheaper. Last year, they lowered prices on 128GB and 256GB 12 and 12 mini models by $50 each. Also, in periods of high inflation, supply chain issues, etc. even prices staying the same could be considered a reduction.
Nah. Brazil wants to be a pain in the ass, let all of their consumers feel the pain for their stupid decisions.