So why couldn't Apple soften it like they did when they removed the headphone jack and included an adapter on top of new headphones? Why not include the adapter at least for the first year or so when they switch to include a different cable? Seems like all the gains are on Apple's side of things and there isn't much on consumer side and for some there's pain.
The two are not mutually exclusive. This is a problem that's not going to affect everyone, and yes, I acknowledge that it can be frustrating for the people that it does impact, but the gist of arguments like this is that it essentially boils down to people whining that Apple won't give them nice stuff for free.
Because if people are going to posit the inclusion of a usb-c to lightning cable as some sort of conspiracy by Apple to reverse-psycho them into buying a 20w charging brick, then I say maybe subsequent iPhones shouldn't even come with the charging cable at all. Can't complain that you don't have the right brick for it then.
It's clear that this year's iPhone has been more expensive to make, between its new form factor and more costly components like 5g and the OLED display for the base model. Just because Apple is in a position to gain financially from not bundling a charging brick or EarPods doesn't mean that the environmental message doesn't hold water.
First off, I maintain that by between the exclusion of accessories and the lower shipping fees, the iPhone 12 is cheaper than it otherwise would have been. Apple has also lowered the price of the 20w charging brick and EarPods for users who still want one, which shows they are not deaf to the sentiment on the ground.
That said, I do concur that Apple still has a long way to go (its packaging remains wasteful, especially all the included paperwork), iPhone repairability remains difficult, and it doesn't look like the iPhone will support usb-c anytime soon. However, given the scale Apple operates at, even the smallest move ends up having a very huge impact on the environment, and I feel this should be acknowledged. Especially given their very public goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Ultimately, Apple is still a publicly-traded company beholden to shareholders, and I think Tim Cook has done an excellent job managing both fronts, ie: simultaneously align the incentives of a profit-maximising corporate entity with the public.
Not to mention that in the process of doing so, Apple has also set the standard for countless other android OEMs to do likewise as well. We can mock Samsung for when they do decide to exclude the charging brick from their next smartphone, but we can't deny that it's a positive step in environmental sustainability, and a net benefit overall. I would really like to see more OEMs jump on board this bandwagon.
But like I said, it's short term pain (for the consumers who need to pony up a little bit of extra cash for extra accessories) for long term gain (better for the environment, the charging brick is there for the next few years, hardware stays affordable, and shareholders don't complain).
