Apple is reportedly toying with the idea of shipping the iPhone 12 range without a USB power brick and EarPods headphones, and today we saw more evidence it might just come to fruition.
The company just sent a survey out to recent iPhone buyers seeking insight into whether they actually used the USB charger that came in the box with their last handset.
Apple appears to be targeting people who bought an iPhone while already owning one, ensuring the likelihood of having one or more chargers at their disposal.
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When asked what they did with their iPhone charger, the company is asking users to select from a number of options (via 9to5Mac):
- I sold or traded it with my iPhone
- I lost it
- I gave it to a family member or friend
- I still use it at home
- I still use it outside (at work, school, or other places)
- I still have it, but I don’t use it.
For those thinking this may just be a coincidence, there is precedent here. Before Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone range, it surveyed users in a similar manner.
While the loss of the headphone jack was mourned, many folks would probably welcome Apple shipping the phone minus the accessories that likely remain in the box unused for a decent proportion of the user base.
While Lightning cables are always handy and somewhat fragile, most of us have better headphones than the EarPods and any Apple enthusiast has probably been through at least half a dozen of the familiar power bricks.
Apple is also under pressure from the European Union to adopt a standardised charging solution that could cut down on environmental waste. The EU is considering a rule to enforce a USB-C solution that it believes would save 50,000 tonnes of waste a year.
Taking some of the nasty plastic out of the box would be a greener solution for a company that has prided itself on being ahead of its tech rivals when it comes to renewable energy and recycling of materials.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
