Reminder: AirPods 5 Do Not Include a Charging Cable in the Box

[paradox00]

What I find curious is I bought an expensive OLED TV and it didn’t have the HDMI cable in the box. A few months later bought a cheap LCD at Walmart and it included the HDMI cable. I do agree it should have all needed and nice when it does, but I suppose a $2500 TV vs a $200 TV is a different type of buyer? Maybe Apple knows buyers will put up with it, but like you say, it belongs in the box if it’s needed for use.

The HDMI cable that came with the cheap LCD TV is probably a lower standard than the OLED needs for higher frame rates and HDR. Low spec HDMI cables are dirt cheap and easy to include, unlike a proper HDMI 2.1 cable like the OLED could take advantage of.

Including the same HDMI cable (likely HDMI 1.4 at best) with the OLED TV would do more harm than good, as the TV wouldn’t be used to its full capabilities. That same thing happened with iPhones (to a lesser extent) due to Apple shipping USB 2 cables with USB 3 enabled phones. I’d very much prefer underspecced cables to be excluded and pricier ones included. Sadly we most often get the opposite for those same cost reasons.

I think it’s good that Apple doesn’t include a cable with AirPods. It’s an accessory to a device that uses the same power cable. If you can charge your iPhone you probably have a means of charging your AirPods too. While Apple is certainly doing it for minor cost savings, low spec USB C cables are a dime a dozen and the world doesn’t need more of them.

 

[mlayer]

I have whole bag of Apple cables. USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to Lighning etc., and I also found out the hard way that they only do charging. Annoying AF.

I guess USB-A to Lightning do data at USB 2.0 speeds, but USB-C only charging.

I've amassed a number of short USB cables that came with other earbuds, mostly Beats. They're perfect as emergency charging cables or travel pack-ins because they're so small. They can trickle charge an iPhone or even a MacBook if I need to.

 

[LlamaLarry]

I used to throw away snaked tangles of Lightning cables, now it is USB C cables. Last thing I need is another one and too short of one at that.

 

[RealKeishav]

Nah i understand charger one but at-least give cables

 

[RoadWarrior56]

When I bought my AirPods 4, that package did not include a charging cable. AirPods have never included cables. This is a useless article.

 

[ralph_sws]

When I bought my AirPods 4, that package did not include a charging cable. AirPods have never included cables. This is a useless article.

You came to AirPods a bit late. The original AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 both included a charging cable in the box, so saying AirPods have “never” included one is simply wrong

 

[vbctv]

As long as they include AirPods.

Don't give Apple any ideas... Next year's Pro 4's you will have to purchase the case and AirPods separately. Case will cost $149 and the AirPods will be another $199. LOL...

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

Totally with you on this.
Just brought my 1st gen AirPods to Apple Store because the batteries are dying.
They told me it cost $49 to replace the battery for EACH AirPods. So, I'd be looking at $98 to replace both when the AirPods 4 are retailing for $99 at Amazon all day long. 🙈

Reducing e-waste, they say. 🧐

I suspect that price is so similar to new AirPods precisely because the "battery replacement" entails giving you a new pair and simply disposing of your old one 😆

 

[B4U]

I suspect that price is so similar to new AirPods precisely because the "battery replacement" entails giving you a new pair and simply disposing of your old one 😆

They said they would replace the batteries only. But since those are from 2017, the AirPods were considered obsolete and therefore they did not even take them in for repair.
I said, great. That means I get to listen to them for 1 minute before they die.

 

[RoadWarrior56]

You came to AirPods a bit late. The original AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 both included a charging cable in the box, so saying AirPods have “never” included one is simply wrong

View attachment 2661796

I was referring to regular AirPods, not AirPods Pro. I have owned AirPods 1, AirPods 2, and AirPods 4, all regular versions. If the Pro models have included charging cables, then I stand corrected in my post. To be honest, that surprised me that any of them included cables, since those devices are so small.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It'd be nice to include the cable on the model that can't charge any other way. 😕

 

[JoeG4]

Next year ship it in a bakers bag. Biodegradable of course.

Honestly, I'd be happier if they did. Apple's boxes are a stupid waste of resources.