The latest rumors about the iPhone 12 speak of a terminal that would come “bare”, and that would go from the EarPods and the power adapter and would include only a USB charging cable. This has set off all the alarms, and future users have been quick to give their point of view on the matter over the network, claiming that a terminal like the iPhone cannot come without these “basics”.
For our part, and unaware of Apple’s adherence to apply this new policy, we have considered it worthwhile to review the reasons why you do not need the iPhone to include these accessories, considering the benefits it has, starting with a lowering of the device.
1- Environmental impact
With the millions of iPhones sold each year, smaller packaging that doesn’t need to accommodate either headphones or a power adapter would be considerably smaller. This means less resources for its manufacture, and what is more important is a smaller space for its transport. It should be emphasized, and that is that where 2 iPhone changed before, now 3 can fit, this means a 33% reduction in transport costs, reducing the emissions that are produced and lowering the costs of product distribution.
On the other hand, taking into account the weight of the supplied accessories (12gr for the AirPods and about 23gr for the power adapter), although individually it may seem little, if we multiply it by the more than 100 million iPhone that are sold with each generation we are in more than 3500 tons of materials saved per year.
All this translates into cheaper production of the device, which will obviously be reflected in the final product.
2- Reduction of electronic waste
In Europe in particular, the European Union has been working hard in recent years to reduce the electronic waste that consumer devices produce, for example by promoting the implementation of a single charger.
Apple would go a step further by not including one, forcing users to reuse one already available in most cases, promoting the reduction of an accessory that is supplied with each and every one of the smartphones sold on the planet, and that we all have at home.
3- Cost savings
Obviously it was not going to be an environmental issue, and it is clear that Apple also seeks to reduce production costs as much as it can. As we said, it is not just a matter of packaging, since this directly affects the distribution chain. Cash, transport and storage will be reduced thanks to this measure, which represents significant savings for the company.
4- Redundancy
With each new generation, Apple includes products in its box that become redundant for different reasons:
- Very few iPhone users buy one for the first time, so they already have everything that Apple distributes with its terminal. Even if they come from another brand, they will have a power adapter and headphones in practically all cases. Thinking of reselling the terminal, Apple in its Trade-In program requests only the device, allowing users to keep their adapter, cable and headphones.
- Power adapters are widely available in every home, so rarely does a user not have one that they don’t use available.
- Not only can an iPhone be charged through a power adapter. Any device with USB input like a computer allows us to charge the iPhone without a problem.
- Wireless charging is becoming very popular, so you may not be able to use a wall charger.
- With the exception of the Pro models of the iPhone 11, the rest of Apple terminals include a slow 5W charger that many users decide to replace with a faster one, more now that since the iPhone 8 all terminals implement fast charging.
- Many users do not use the headphones that come with the iPhone since the main use they give the phone does not require them.
- Users who do use headphones on their iPhone, usually end up updating their headphones to superior ones to those that come with the terminal.
5- Preparing for the future
For some time now, it has been rumored that Apple plans a device without ports in the not too distant future. This would be the first step to reduce the dependence of users on these accessories, and to educate the public about the wireless charger as a more widespread means, as well as wireless headphones, which are increasingly available at more affordable prices in the market.
6- Promote the sale of AirPods
Considering the price of even the cheapest AirPods model, we can assure that this is a secondary factor for Apple, although present. Surely, to potential buyers of AirPods, the lack of headphones with their new terminal will encourage them to get on the go with some, even with some Beats.
Although the user finally decides on a headset from another brand, Apple continues to benefit thanks to cost savings and environmental impact.