Apple's Slowest iPhone Charger No Longer Available in Some Countries

[MacRumors]

Apple's slowest iPhone charger with an outdated 5W USB port is no longer available to purchase in some countries around the world.

As noted by Japanese blog Mac Otakara, the 5W charger is currently sold out on Apple's online store in Japan. With a quick spot check, we found the charger is also sold out or completely removed on Apple's online store in Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, and several other countries.

Apple continues to sell the 5W charger for $19 in the United States, as well as in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Singapore, and some other countries.

Apple included a compact 5W charger with the iPhone 3G through iPhone 11, although the charger received a few minor revisions over the years, in part due to two voluntary safety recalls issued by Apple in select countries. Unlike Apple's newer USB-C chargers, the 5W charger is equipped with a USB-A port and is not capable of fast charging.

iPhone 11 Pro models came with a faster 18W USB-C charger in the box, and Apple stopped including a charger at all with the iPhone 12 and newer.

Article Link: Apple's Slowest iPhone Charger No Longer Available in Some Countries

 

[dustin_]

Why does this thing still exist at all?

 

[lazyrighteye]

Prob ok if they cease manufacturing this one.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Why does this thing still exist at all?

Slow charging and it does not over-heat the iPhone. To this date, I still use it daily on my iPhone 13 Pro Max.

 

[poematik13]

i have so many of these in my drawer from a decade+ of ipads and iphones in the family

 

[Cybertox]

Slow charging and it goes not over-heat the iPhone. To this date, I still use it daily on my iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Good for you. Yet you are one of the very few, this charger has become obsolete years ago.

Overcharging your iPhone overnight is more counterproductive than letting it charge on a fast charger for a short time span.

 

[Cromulent]

I charge my iPhone, iPad, AirPod Pros and MacBook Air with my 30W charger. I dread to think how slow charging would be on a 5W charger.

 

[jayducharme]

I got my wife a 13 mini this weekend and for the first time the associate tried to upsell me on a new USB-C charger. But like so many others, I have a stock of the old iPhone chargers at home and they work perfectly fine for us.

 

[JM]

End of an era 😢

I have such fond memories of my 5w charger bricks, and still pull out and appreciate them from time to time. My oldest ones still charge!

Such good times. I’ll miss you.

 

[hagar]

End of an era 😢

I have such fond memories of my 5w charger bricks, and still pull out and appreciate them from time to time. My oldest ones still charge!

Such good times. I’ll miss you.

I never think of my chargers like that.
Guess I’m a cold monster.

 

[orev]

Overcharging your iPhone overnight is more counterproductive than letting it charge on a fast charger for a short time span.

Completely wrong. The iPhone is smart enough to stop charging overnight when it reaches the right level. With Optimized Battery Charging enabled (the default), it stops at 80% charge overnight, then completes charging to 100% closer to when you're going to get up in the morning.

Slow charging like this is far, far better for the battery than doing fast charges, and charging overnight while sleeping is the way that the vast majority of people use anyway. There's simply no need for larger/faster chargers for most people.

 

[russell_314]

Good for you. Yet you are one of the very few, this charger has become obsolete years ago.

Overcharging your iPhone overnight is more counterproductive than letting it charge on a fast charger for a short time span.

Actually your phone won't "overcharge". Slowly charging it overnight creates much less heat than fast charging it for a short period. Heat is what kills the battery.

This being said I fast charge because batteries are cheap. I don't see the point of babying your battery unless we hit some type of apocalypse situation where parts aren't available. I'm likely getting a new phone within three years and if not I'll just replace the battery for $69

 

[Cybertox]

Completely wrong. The iPhone is smart enough to stop charging overnight when it reaches the right level. With Optimized Battery Charging enabled (the default), it stops at 80% charge overnight, then completes charging to 100% closer to when you're going to get up in the morning.

Slow charging like this is far, far better for the battery than doing fast charges, and charging overnight while sleeping is the way that the vast majority of people use anyway. There's simply no need for larger/faster chargers for most people.

This is where I disagree with you on this matter. Letting your battery go below 20% and then charging it using a slow charger past 80% causes much more saturation to the battery, than keeping it in the range between 20% and 80% using a fast charger.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Who still uses a 5 watt charger? 😁

 

[pianostar9]

Who still uses a 5 watt charger? 😁

I used one yesterday!

My preferred method of charging is plugging in to my monitor but we were moving it and it was the easiest one to find ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I use these to recharge Bluetooth speakers and other devices that have USB-A charging cables. Like having one available in every room since I have a handful of them.

 

[nathan_reilly]

Good for you. Yet you are one of the very few, this charger has become obsolete years ago.

Overcharging your iPhone overnight is more counterproductive than letting it charge on a fast charger for a short time span.

Another opportunity to educate someone! Your fast charger is like holding a sponge up against a fire hydrant, where your phone is the sponge. The phone does not overcharge, but apple has absolutely responded to folks request for faster charging speeds at the cost of battery longevity. It is simply much better to use a lower power charger overnight, if you can spare the time it takes. If you don't care about battery replacements, then of course your calculus is different and more power to ya!

 

[JM]

I never think of my chargers like that.
Guess I’m a cold monster.

What?! 😱

(Read this in your best Jony Ive impression) You must appreciate the curves of the rectangular solid that references natural surfaces in nature, with edges that make the object melt into your fingers like it wasn’t even there, with metal prongs that are carefully manufactured to half a millimeter, and a glossy white sheen that reflects the colors of the visible spectrum in a way that only Apple can provide.

Yes, you are a monster with an icy, cold cold cold heart 😆

 

[seek3r]

Why does this thing still exist at all?

It works fine for a plug that you don't need fast charging on, so if you still have a pile kicking around putting it in places like that (near bed for ex) is fine (not sure why you'd want to buy a *new* one for that though). It's also great for reusing for older or slower charging devices, like kindles (again, wouldnt buy new).

My biggest use of my old ones personally are powering raspberry pis, they're quality bricks and they provide plenty of power for the pis.

 

[JM]

Who still uses a 5 watt charger? 😁

History Buffs. And lazy people. And grumps. And Ron Swanson. And Jony Ive worshippers.

😂

 

[minik]

I still use the 5W charger for my iPod touch and iPhone. The compact size is really something I miss on bigger wattage power adapter.

 

[JM]

Completely wrong. The iPhone is smart enough to stop charging overnight when it reaches the right level. With Optimized Battery Charging enabled (the default), it stops at 80% charge overnight, then completes charging to 100% closer to when you're going to get up in the morning.

Slow charging like this is far, far better for the battery than doing fast charges, and charging overnight while sleeping is the way that the vast majority of people use anyway. There's simply no need for larger/faster chargers for most people.

The absolute best way to take care of battery, though, is only charge between 20-80 percent, and never leave on charger long term.

Fast charging helps achieve this “pet” goal.

 

[JM]

I still use the 5W charger for my iPod touch and iPhone. The compact size is really something I miss on bigger wattage power adapter.

I actually have to scrounge for an old 5w brick and cable because I left my GAN charger at work… and the AC went out so they suggested everyone WFH.

 

[crsh1976]

Who still uses a 5 watt charger? 😁

It's my last-resort charger, but I would never pay the Apple tax for such a basic item - you find no-brand ones for $3-5 everywhere.

 

[ipedro]

Why does this thing still exist at all?

They probably made a billion of them. 10 years ago.