No Charger Inside iPhone 12: Why You Should Not Panic About It?
The more you think about it, the more it makes sense
Apple may surprise us (again) with the release of iPhone 12. Just a few months ago, a reputable source leaker mentioned that Apple will not include a wired EarPods inside the iPhone 12 box.
This time, the same person claimed that Apple will not include a charger inside the box. Although it’s only a rumour, people are terrified of this news. Its suddenly become a trending topic at the moment.
Did Apple has gone too far? Or is it the right move?
Well, if you are planning to buy an iPhone 12 this year, here are why you should not worry about it.
You can still use your old charger
Apple is still going to use the lightning connector this year. There has been a rumour around about Apple’s transition to USB-C for their iPhones and it’s unlikely to happen. Another source by Jon Prosser claimed that Apple is going to implement a portless iPhone in 2021 and removed the lightning adapter completely. This year may be the last year that we will see an iPhone with a lightning adapter.
With that means, if you are planning to buy an iPhone 12, you don’t need to worry since you can still use your old lightning adapter to charge your phone. You may have multiple cables lying around your house, so it should not be a big deal. However, if you are an Android user switching to the iPhone 12 this year, then having a lightning cable is necessary. Otherwise, you can rely on a wireless charger.
Relying on Wireless charging
Since 2017, Apple has included a wireless charging capability inside the iPhone. The wireless charging has a QI certification, which is a standard wireless charging for any mobile devices. It means that both iPhones and Androids are compatible with wireless charging that benefits most users.
As I said earlier, if you are an Android user and willing to switch to the new iPhone 12 this year, you may not worry about charging when you owned a wireless charger. You can place your device into the same wireless charger. Having a wireless charger at the moment is a good investment, which prepares you for the possible future of portless smartphones.
QI wireless charges have been sold everywhere, depending on the price range. The benefit of having a wireless charger is the wider compatibility. As long it has been QI certified, you will be fine. Unlike a wired charger, which requires you to use a genuine charging cable that costs more. Apple themselves hasn’t released its wireless charger officially since the cancellation of AirPower. They still believe that “The future is wireless”.
E-waste, environmental impact and potential cheaper iPhones
As part of Apple’s tradition during an iPhone launch, they like to claim how environmentally friendly their iPhone production is. Removing the cables inside the box means that it will extend its environmental commitment, by reducing e-waste and saving the production costs. In reality, there have been tones of e-waste from charging cables and wired accessories.
Steven Yang, the CEO of Anker (Phone accessories company) reveals the untold truth of these chargers:
Every smartphone has a charger with it. We had 1.5 billion smartphones that shipped last year. That’s only for phones. When we have tablets, laptops, power drills, [and more], we estimate a total of four billion chargers (were shipped last year). We estimate about 300,000 tons of e-waste just from these in-box chargers.
As you may know, Apple is probably the most sustainable tech company in the world. We had seen Apple’s sustainable commitment through the Apple Park’s design, 100% recyclable aluminium construction on its product and more.
With fewer accessories included in the box, we may see cheaper iPhones in the future. Many people have been complaining about how expensive iPhones can be, therefore this is can be a great solution. Reducing costs, yet benefit more for the environment.
Does it make more sense now for Apple to make this move?
All of these three points viewed according to the consumer, business and environmental perspective. I know that some of you may argue with this decision, but in some ways, it is quite sensible. The more you think about it, the more it makes sense.
Of course, there is no official statement yet from Apple regarding this news. But seeing it evolves over the next few weeks and months will be very interesting, until Apple eventually revealed their newest iPhone in September. We have to wait and see how it goes.
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Christopher Reno Budiman is a writer, explorer and entrepreneur-minded person. He received Bachelor of Business (Hospitality Management) and Bachelor of International Hospitality Management with Swiss Hotel Association accreditation. He’s on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn if you would like to know more about him
