Apple's new round of iPhones has finally been revealed after pandemic delays pushed back the announcement of the new phones. The tech giant is releasing four new iPhone 12 models over the next month, which all feature an upgrade with the latest technology, including 5G. But the new models will also be missing some staple Apple pack-ins as well.
For generations of Apple iPhones, power adaptors have always been provided in the box of any new product. This is set to change as Apple has announced it will be removing the free power adapter and lightning earphones from the new iPhone 12 range as well as newly shipped iPhone 11, XR, and SE models. The new iPhone 12 models will come with a single USB-C to lightning cable instead, moving them into the USB-C range that most other Apple products are using now.
Apple stated that this move is in an effort to reduce e-waste and a negative impact on the environment. The company is attempting to become carbon neutral across the entire business by 2030, and this includes the supply chain and product lifecycle for all its products. A statement from Apple claims that removing the power adaptor and EarPods from iPhone boxes will reduce packaging materials and size, allowing for 70% more boxes to be shipped on a pallet. Over time this will cut over 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions yearly, which is equivalent to removing 450,000 cars from the road.
Both power adapters and EarPods will still be available for individual sale for those who need them. Existing wall chargers and lightning headphones will also still be compatible with the new iPhone range. Many buyers are annoyed by the company's decision, claiming that Apple is concerned with its own shipping costs rather than its carbon footprint. But seeing as power adaptors and EarPods have been included in iPhone boxes since the beginning, it seems Apple has made a fair assumption that most buyers already own these items.
Apple also stated that the new iPhone 12 Pro models will utilize recycled earth metals in all magnets, including the new camera and Taptic Engine. The new iPhone range will also be bringing back MagSafe power adapters and accessories, which are a return to the charging cable of old that are able to magnetically snap-connect to a device. For the new iPhones, the MagSafe charger will allow wireless charging capabilities and are similar in style to the current Apple Watch chargers. These will also be created with sustainable materials, adding to Apple's trend of becoming carbon neutral.
Source: Apple