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iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

macrumors.com

11–20 of 81 posts

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#11

These petty BOM reduction exercises from Tim Cook's Apple to claw back single dollars on products that are $1000 are starting to get egregious.

They also reduce e-waste.

Few people need yet another lightning / micro-usb / usb-c cable and charger.

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#12

These petty BOM reduction exercises from Tim Cook's Apple to claw back single dollars on products that are $1000 are starting to get egregious.

At this point it’s a rumor and we don’t know the prices for the next batch of phones yet. Hopefully we see some reduced prices regardless, but it is hard to get worked up over rumors like this when I’m not lacking in charging equipment or headphones. The inclusions made sense, until they didn’t, now it’s just extra crap to fill a spares drawer and pass off to others.

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#13
post #8

I suppose that if you’re upgrading to iPhone and already have one it is a waste to give you yet another charger. I wonder how much energy is used creating these cables that often go straight in a drawer because the previous cable is already conveniently plugged into the wall.

Yeah in theory it's a defensible move, because we're moving towards standardized charging ports. However, Apple is the only one that's being weird about it, introducing the Lightning connector instead of e.g. switching to micro-USB. USB-C was still a while out when Lightning was introduced. But honestly they have no excuse to not adopt Micro-USB or USB-C.

Lightning is symmetric, Micro USB is not.

Lightning is smaller than USB-C.

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#15
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah in theory it's a defensible move, because we're moving towards standardized charging ports. However, Apple is the only one that's being weird about it, introducing the Lightning connector instead of e.g. switching to micro-USB. USB-C was still a while out when Lightning was introduced. But honestly they have no excuse to not adopt Micro-USB or USB-C.

Lighting is way better than micro-USB, and somewhat better than even USB-C, which, as you correctly mentioned, was released years after its debut. So that’s their “excuse”, and I’m glad for it every time I have to interact with a micro-USB cable.

And what would these benefits of lightning vs USB C be, aside from being endorsed and embedded in the Apple ecosystem?

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#16
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lighting is way better than micro-USB, and somewhat better than even USB-C, which, as you correctly mentioned, was released years after its debut. So that’s their “excuse”, and I’m glad for it every time I have to interact with a micro-USB cable.

And what would these benefits of lightning vs USB C be, aside from being endorsed and embedded in the Apple ecosystem?

At this point not that much. It’s slightly smaller, and most iPhone users already have a pile of lightning cables. It’s also nice to be able to charge your low-end iPad / Airpods / Apple mice and keyboards from the same cable. Historically there were a load of speaker docks that had a fixed lightning plug, but that’s mostly a dead market segment at this point.

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#18
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lighting is way better than micro-USB, and somewhat better than even USB-C, which, as you correctly mentioned, was released years after its debut. So that’s their “excuse”, and I’m glad for it every time I have to interact with a micro-USB cable.

And what would these benefits of lightning vs USB C be, aside from being endorsed and embedded in the Apple ecosystem?

I note how you didn’t ask about micro-USB, because you know it to be inferior.

Well, first of all, lighting predates usb-c by a few years, so it’s an advantage that we thankfully haven’t had to endure micro-USB in that time.

Then, lightning is a male connector which makes it more robust, compared to the female connector in USB-C. I’ve had multiple USB-C cables break when inserted a bit too aggressively, which has not ever happened in my years of using lightning.

There just isn’t a “wrong way to hold” the lightning connector, which isn’t quite the case with USB-C, in my experience.

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#19

Makes sense! Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility. I will be interested to see how they communicate this to prevent first time iPhone users being left without a charging cable/power brick.

>Many consumers likely already have a USB-C charger, so splitting it up gives people flexibility.

Only if the charger price is deduced from the phone’s price or you can opt in to get one for free if you need it. Otherwise it’s very obviously screwing up consumers to optimize earnings once again.

Re: iPhone 12 Models Won't Include Charger in Box, Power Adapter Sold Separately

#20
post #3

Charging via USB-C - does that mean you will be able to use generic non-Apple chargers with the iPhone 12? (sorry, complete phone-noob here)

You can charge existing iPhones with generic chargers; you only need the lightning cable (which comes with the phone).
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